Low gears definitely help.
I used to abhorr hills, and being raised in a flat city didn't help with my training. Anyway, my touring bike has a low of 22/32 (that's 18,5 gear-inches), which I use sometimes when riding alone, but quite often with the kids.
With low low gears, hills are slow, hills may be warm and hills may require a lot of water, but hills aren't more painful than riding on flat terrain. I just spin at 60 rpm (instead of 80-90 on the flats)... and I eat kilometres very slowly, but smell a lot more flowers. Everyone passes me when going uphill, but who cares!