Phoenix, AZ - Dorothy M. Miller, 92, of Phoenix AZ, formerly of Sterling and Harmon IL, passed away peacefully at home on Friday June 18, 2021, after a brief illness, surrounded by her loving family.
She was born on December 21, 1928, in London England, the youngest child of 11 to Richard and Mabel (Farthing) Burt.
She attended elementary school until World War II broke out on September 3, 1939, after which she was educated at home. After the war, she attended Guildhall School of Music and Arts in London, performed on stage and worked as a secretary until she married in 1954. She was just 3 months shy of her 11th birthday when World War II broke out. She shared vivid stories of growing up in the London suburb of Ealing during the blitz. Her family endured nightly air raids, taking shelter in the Underground subway system. In July of 1953, she was on board a train to Paris when she met two American sisters touring Europe. They became fast friends and they introduced her to an American G.I. they had met in Paris, who had a poor opinion of "British girls who are only after one thing – to marry an American and escape from post war Britain". The Schultz sisters (Frieda and Margaret) were convinced that Dorothy's good humor and lack of guile would prove to him that not all British girls were golddiggers! That handsome Air Force Sergeant was Paul J. Miller, who became the love of Dorothy's life. They married in London on April 24, 1954, moved to Illinois in November of that same year, and were happily together until he passed away unexpectedly on May 13, 1982. They began their married life farming near Paul's parents in Harmon Illinois. Once asked about how she felt moving to rural Illinois from bustling London England, into a large close knit Irish Catholic family with a strong matriarch, she responded "I wasn't afraid, I was completely in love". She told the story of first getting to Illinois and going out to dinner with Paul and his sister, Theresa and her husband Frank Klocke at Klocke's Restaurant in Sterling. Everyone ordered steaks and she was a bit overwhelmed by the size of the portions, noting that each steak was the size of the meat ration for a family of four for a whole week" during the war in England. She soon embraced the life of a farmer's wife, and became a treasured member of her extended family. She and Paul raised their family of 5 children first in Harmon, then moved to Sterling in 1966, where she continued to juggle the jobs of homemaker, part time secretary and school tutor of English. In the 1970s she indulged her love of acting again when she appeared in theatrical productions at Timberlake Playhouse in Mount Carroll and the Emerald Hill Dinner Theatre in Sterling.
As she said a week before she passed, "I've had a very happy life!"
She came of age during the momentous war and post-war years in England, spent her young adulthood as the bride of the man of her dreams and matured into a loving mom, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and loyal friend to many. We have been blessed to spend so many years in the warmth of her love, her humor, and her wise guidance.
She was predeceased by her parents; her husband, Paul J. Miller; her son, Charles R.I. Miller; infant daughter, Patricia Jane Miller; three sisters: seven brothers, eight brothers-in-law and eleven sisters-in-law.
She is survived by her daughters: Sarah (Ken) Willey, Rosalind (Philip) Smith and Monica (Melvin) Joffre; her son: Paul J (Patty Presley) Miller; beloved grandchildren and step-grandchildren: Brett (Alicia) Willey, Alex (Katie) Willey, Roger (Lexi) Willey and Greg (Megan Bright) Willey, Katie (Jonathan) Beals, John (Sheila) Beals, Patrick Beals, Bryan Smith, Ciera (Nick) Osborn, Hillary (Daniel) Flanigan, Elizabeth Joffre, Michael Joffre, Evan Miller, Ellie Miller and Ethan Miller; twelve great-grandchildren and step-grandchildren and her nieces Jean Powell and Shirley Woodall.
Thank you to the wonderful caregivers at Premier Hospice in Phoenix, especially Ursula Dyer and Trini Ambe. Your kindness and compassion will always be remembered.
Visitation will be held on Friday, June 25, 2021 from 4:00 - 7:00 P.M. at the Holloway Center at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Dixon. Rosary will be recited at 4:00 P.M. Celebration of the Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, June 26, 2021 at 10:30 A.M. at the church with Reverend John Evans Celebrant officiating. Burial will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery in Tampico.
Sauk Valley News (Dixon, IL) - June 24, 2021
She was born on December 21, 1928, in London England, the youngest child of 11 to Richard and Mabel (Farthing) Burt.
She attended elementary school until World War II broke out on September 3, 1939, after which she was educated at home. After the war, she attended Guildhall School of Music and Arts in London, performed on stage and worked as a secretary until she married in 1954. She was just 3 months shy of her 11th birthday when World War II broke out. She shared vivid stories of growing up in the London suburb of Ealing during the blitz. Her family endured nightly air raids, taking shelter in the Underground subway system. In July of 1953, she was on board a train to Paris when she met two American sisters touring Europe. They became fast friends and they introduced her to an American G.I. they had met in Paris, who had a poor opinion of "British girls who are only after one thing – to marry an American and escape from post war Britain". The Schultz sisters (Frieda and Margaret) were convinced that Dorothy's good humor and lack of guile would prove to him that not all British girls were golddiggers! That handsome Air Force Sergeant was Paul J. Miller, who became the love of Dorothy's life. They married in London on April 24, 1954, moved to Illinois in November of that same year, and were happily together until he passed away unexpectedly on May 13, 1982. They began their married life farming near Paul's parents in Harmon Illinois. Once asked about how she felt moving to rural Illinois from bustling London England, into a large close knit Irish Catholic family with a strong matriarch, she responded "I wasn't afraid, I was completely in love". She told the story of first getting to Illinois and going out to dinner with Paul and his sister, Theresa and her husband Frank Klocke at Klocke's Restaurant in Sterling. Everyone ordered steaks and she was a bit overwhelmed by the size of the portions, noting that each steak was the size of the meat ration for a family of four for a whole week" during the war in England. She soon embraced the life of a farmer's wife, and became a treasured member of her extended family. She and Paul raised their family of 5 children first in Harmon, then moved to Sterling in 1966, where she continued to juggle the jobs of homemaker, part time secretary and school tutor of English. In the 1970s she indulged her love of acting again when she appeared in theatrical productions at Timberlake Playhouse in Mount Carroll and the Emerald Hill Dinner Theatre in Sterling.
As she said a week before she passed, "I've had a very happy life!"
She came of age during the momentous war and post-war years in England, spent her young adulthood as the bride of the man of her dreams and matured into a loving mom, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and loyal friend to many. We have been blessed to spend so many years in the warmth of her love, her humor, and her wise guidance.
She was predeceased by her parents; her husband, Paul J. Miller; her son, Charles R.I. Miller; infant daughter, Patricia Jane Miller; three sisters: seven brothers, eight brothers-in-law and eleven sisters-in-law.
She is survived by her daughters: Sarah (Ken) Willey, Rosalind (Philip) Smith and Monica (Melvin) Joffre; her son: Paul J (Patty Presley) Miller; beloved grandchildren and step-grandchildren: Brett (Alicia) Willey, Alex (Katie) Willey, Roger (Lexi) Willey and Greg (Megan Bright) Willey, Katie (Jonathan) Beals, John (Sheila) Beals, Patrick Beals, Bryan Smith, Ciera (Nick) Osborn, Hillary (Daniel) Flanigan, Elizabeth Joffre, Michael Joffre, Evan Miller, Ellie Miller and Ethan Miller; twelve great-grandchildren and step-grandchildren and her nieces Jean Powell and Shirley Woodall.
Thank you to the wonderful caregivers at Premier Hospice in Phoenix, especially Ursula Dyer and Trini Ambe. Your kindness and compassion will always be remembered.
Visitation will be held on Friday, June 25, 2021 from 4:00 - 7:00 P.M. at the Holloway Center at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Dixon. Rosary will be recited at 4:00 P.M. Celebration of the Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, June 26, 2021 at 10:30 A.M. at the church with Reverend John Evans Celebrant officiating. Burial will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery in Tampico.
Sauk Valley News (Dixon, IL) - June 24, 2021
Phoenix, AZ - Dorothy M. Miller, 92, of Phoenix AZ, formerly of Sterling and Harmon IL, passed away peacefully at home on Friday June 18, 2021, after a brief illness, surrounded by her loving family.
She was born on December 21, 1928, in London England, the youngest child of 11 to Richard and Mabel (Farthing) Burt.
She attended elementary school until World War II broke out on September 3, 1939, after which she was educated at home. After the war, she attended Guildhall School of Music and Arts in London, performed on stage and worked as a secretary until she married in 1954. She was just 3 months shy of her 11th birthday when World War II broke out. She shared vivid stories of growing up in the London suburb of Ealing during the blitz. Her family endured nightly air raids, taking shelter in the Underground subway system. In July of 1953, she was on board a train to Paris when she met two American sisters touring Europe. They became fast friends and they introduced her to an American G.I. they had met in Paris, who had a poor opinion of "British girls who are only after one thing – to marry an American and escape from post war Britain". The Schultz sisters (Frieda and Margaret) were convinced that Dorothy's good humor and lack of guile would prove to him that not all British girls were golddiggers! That handsome Air Force Sergeant was Paul J. Miller, who became the love of Dorothy's life. They married in London on April 24, 1954, moved to Illinois in November of that same year, and were happily together until he passed away unexpectedly on May 13, 1982. They began their married life farming near Paul's parents in Harmon Illinois. Once asked about how she felt moving to rural Illinois from bustling London England, into a large close knit Irish Catholic family with a strong matriarch, she responded "I wasn't afraid, I was completely in love". She told the story of first getting to Illinois and going out to dinner with Paul and his sister, Theresa and her husband Frank Klocke at Klocke's Restaurant in Sterling. Everyone ordered steaks and she was a bit overwhelmed by the size of the portions, noting that each steak was the size of the meat ration for a family of four for a whole week" during the war in England. She soon embraced the life of a farmer's wife, and became a treasured member of her extended family. She and Paul raised their family of 5 children first in Harmon, then moved to Sterling in 1966, where she continued to juggle the jobs of homemaker, part time secretary and school tutor of English. In the 1970s she indulged her love of acting again when she appeared in theatrical productions at Timberlake Playhouse in Mount Carroll and the Emerald Hill Dinner Theatre in Sterling.
As she said a week before she passed, "I've had a very happy life!"
She came of age during the momentous war and post-war years in England, spent her young adulthood as the bride of the man of her dreams and matured into a loving mom, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and loyal friend to many. We have been blessed to spend so many years in the warmth of her love, her humor, and her wise guidance.
She was predeceased by her parents; her husband, Paul J. Miller; her son, Charles R.I. Miller; infant daughter, Patricia Jane Miller; three sisters: seven brothers, eight brothers-in-law and eleven sisters-in-law.
She is survived by her daughters: Sarah (Ken) Willey, Rosalind (Philip) Smith and Monica (Melvin) Joffre; her son: Paul J (Patty Presley) Miller; beloved grandchildren and step-grandchildren: Brett (Alicia) Willey, Alex (Katie) Willey, Roger (Lexi) Willey and Greg (Megan Bright) Willey, Katie (Jonathan) Beals, John (Sheila) Beals, Patrick Beals, Bryan Smith, Ciera (Nick) Osborn, Hillary (Daniel) Flanigan, Elizabeth Joffre, Michael Joffre, Evan Miller, Ellie Miller and Ethan Miller; twelve great-grandchildren and step-grandchildren and her nieces Jean Powell and Shirley Woodall.
Thank you to the wonderful caregivers at Premier Hospice in Phoenix, especially Ursula Dyer and Trini Ambe. Your kindness and compassion will always be remembered.
Visitation will be held on Friday, June 25, 2021 from 4:00 - 7:00 P.M. at the Holloway Center at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Dixon. Rosary will be recited at 4:00 P.M. Celebration of the Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, June 26, 2021 at 10:30 A.M. at the church with Reverend John Evans Celebrant officiating. Burial will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery in Tampico.
Sauk Valley News (Dixon, IL) - June 24, 2021
She was born on December 21, 1928, in London England, the youngest child of 11 to Richard and Mabel (Farthing) Burt.
She attended elementary school until World War II broke out on September 3, 1939, after which she was educated at home. After the war, she attended Guildhall School of Music and Arts in London, performed on stage and worked as a secretary until she married in 1954. She was just 3 months shy of her 11th birthday when World War II broke out. She shared vivid stories of growing up in the London suburb of Ealing during the blitz. Her family endured nightly air raids, taking shelter in the Underground subway system. In July of 1953, she was on board a train to Paris when she met two American sisters touring Europe. They became fast friends and they introduced her to an American G.I. they had met in Paris, who had a poor opinion of "British girls who are only after one thing – to marry an American and escape from post war Britain". The Schultz sisters (Frieda and Margaret) were convinced that Dorothy's good humor and lack of guile would prove to him that not all British girls were golddiggers! That handsome Air Force Sergeant was Paul J. Miller, who became the love of Dorothy's life. They married in London on April 24, 1954, moved to Illinois in November of that same year, and were happily together until he passed away unexpectedly on May 13, 1982. They began their married life farming near Paul's parents in Harmon Illinois. Once asked about how she felt moving to rural Illinois from bustling London England, into a large close knit Irish Catholic family with a strong matriarch, she responded "I wasn't afraid, I was completely in love". She told the story of first getting to Illinois and going out to dinner with Paul and his sister, Theresa and her husband Frank Klocke at Klocke's Restaurant in Sterling. Everyone ordered steaks and she was a bit overwhelmed by the size of the portions, noting that each steak was the size of the meat ration for a family of four for a whole week" during the war in England. She soon embraced the life of a farmer's wife, and became a treasured member of her extended family. She and Paul raised their family of 5 children first in Harmon, then moved to Sterling in 1966, where she continued to juggle the jobs of homemaker, part time secretary and school tutor of English. In the 1970s she indulged her love of acting again when she appeared in theatrical productions at Timberlake Playhouse in Mount Carroll and the Emerald Hill Dinner Theatre in Sterling.
As she said a week before she passed, "I've had a very happy life!"
She came of age during the momentous war and post-war years in England, spent her young adulthood as the bride of the man of her dreams and matured into a loving mom, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and loyal friend to many. We have been blessed to spend so many years in the warmth of her love, her humor, and her wise guidance.
She was predeceased by her parents; her husband, Paul J. Miller; her son, Charles R.I. Miller; infant daughter, Patricia Jane Miller; three sisters: seven brothers, eight brothers-in-law and eleven sisters-in-law.
She is survived by her daughters: Sarah (Ken) Willey, Rosalind (Philip) Smith and Monica (Melvin) Joffre; her son: Paul J (Patty Presley) Miller; beloved grandchildren and step-grandchildren: Brett (Alicia) Willey, Alex (Katie) Willey, Roger (Lexi) Willey and Greg (Megan Bright) Willey, Katie (Jonathan) Beals, John (Sheila) Beals, Patrick Beals, Bryan Smith, Ciera (Nick) Osborn, Hillary (Daniel) Flanigan, Elizabeth Joffre, Michael Joffre, Evan Miller, Ellie Miller and Ethan Miller; twelve great-grandchildren and step-grandchildren and her nieces Jean Powell and Shirley Woodall.
Thank you to the wonderful caregivers at Premier Hospice in Phoenix, especially Ursula Dyer and Trini Ambe. Your kindness and compassion will always be remembered.
Visitation will be held on Friday, June 25, 2021 from 4:00 - 7:00 P.M. at the Holloway Center at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Dixon. Rosary will be recited at 4:00 P.M. Celebration of the Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, June 26, 2021 at 10:30 A.M. at the church with Reverend John Evans Celebrant officiating. Burial will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery in Tampico.
Sauk Valley News (Dixon, IL) - June 24, 2021
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