Joyce Miller, of Niles

Published 8:22 am Friday, March 1, 2019

Aug. 18, 1927 — Feb. 25, 2019

Joyce Miller, 91, of Niles, passed away at her house with her family by her side on Monday, Feb. 25, 2019.

Joyce was born on Aug. 18, 1927, in Niles, to the late Thurston and Ardella (Evick) Gentry.

Joyce Miller

On April 15, 1951, she married Theodore ‘Ted’ Miller who survives.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her sister Jean Gentry; brothers, Frank and Jarrell and her son-in-law Keith Kirkdorfer.

She is survived by her husband Ted, their children; Pam (Elgon) Ellis, of Brimley, Michigan, Joe (Lillie) Miller, of Arlington, Texas, Cindy Kirkdorfer, of Edwardsburg, grandchildren; Aaron, Aarick and Landon (Maggie) Asmus, Brian, Larry and Jeff Ellis, Cameron (Karla) Mendenhall, Brooke Mendenhall, Daniel, Kayla and Rachel Miller, great-grandchildren; Brandon, Myah and Garrett Asmus, Kadin and Samuel Goetz, Nathan and Cole Krupp, Dylan and Colten Mendenhall, Jackson Caram, Nick (Christina) Ellis, Kassie Ellis, Brooke (Aaron) DePalma, great-great-granddaughters; Ophilia and Penelope DePalma and many nieces, nephews and extended family.

Joyce graduated from Central High School, in Niles, in 1945. She then worked at a mushroom factory, in Niles and Kawneer. From there she worked for Spiegel Catalog doing phone survey research. Joyce sold Chicago Sun Times over the phone and worked in the office of Thiesen-Clemans Oil Company.

From October 1966 until September 1993, she worked for Simplicity Pattern Company in the Discard Department. Her last nine years there she worked in the Discard Department. Joyce continued to keep busy after her retirement by doing demonstrations at Walmart.

Joyce loved to sew. Over the years, she has sewed hundreds of lap robes and baggies for walker and has donated all of them to nursing homes. When she was younger, she loved to go camping. More recently, she enjoyed playing Dominos, word searches, jig saw puzzles and reading. Joyce really loved being a member of Calvary Chapel Church.

Visitation for Joyce will be from 10 to 11 a.m. on Friday, March 1, 2019, in Calvary Chapel 53494 Fir Road Granger. A funeral service will begin at 11 a.m. at the church. Burial will take place in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.