Leona Madeline Kruebbe Hilbert passed away peacefully on November 9, 2013, at the age of 88 and is in the arms of the Lord. She is preceded in death by her brothers, George Kruebbe, Jr. and Kenneth Kruebbe; as well as her parents, George Francis and Leona Florence Kruebbe. Dear and faithful wife of Dr. Gerard Henry Hilbert for 63 years, Leona was born on February 19, 1925, in New Orleans, LA. She is survived by her husband, Gerard; her sister, Caroline Battalora; her eight children, Kristin Ann (Karl) Sirotkin, Karen Madeline Pandolfi, Gerard Henry (Brenda) Hilbert, Jr., Caroline Marie (Chris) Farrugia, Thomas George Hilbert, Catherine Leigh (Gerry) Barker, Paul Anthony (Elizabeth) Hilbert and Jeanne Claire (Vic) Lazzari; and her eight grandchildren, Leela, Daniel, Meghan, Jennifer, Mallory, Eric, Day and Anthony; and her great-granddaughter, Madeline. Leona was a graduate of Dominican High School in New Orleans, and went on to receive her R.N. Degree from Charity Hospital School of Nursing. She served as an Assistant Instructor in Nursing Arts at Charity. Her strength, kindness, and tender heart as a nurse, friend, mother, aunt, and grandmother were blessings upon all who knew her. She was enchanted by the song of the mockingbird and she delighted in the beauty of magnolias, dogwoods, and azaleas - all parts of the nurturing home she created for her family. Relatives and friends are invited for visitation at 11:00am until a Funeral Mass to begin at 12:00noon Tuesday, November 12, 2013 at St. Paul Catholic Church, 1700 Conway Dr., Pensacola, FL 32503, with Fr. Doug Halsema celebrant. Entombment will follow at Holy Cross Mausoleum. If you so choose, memorial contributions may be made to the Charity Hospital School of Nursing (CHSN) Leona Hilbert Scholarship Fund, 450 South Claiborne Ave., New Orleans, LA 70112. Online condolences may be offered at www.memorialwebsites.legacy.com or www.harpermorrismemorialchapel.com.