Fairbury - Mildred Miller, 96, died at 5:55 P.M., Saturday, December 16, 2006 at the Fairview Haven Nursing Home in Fairbury where she had been a resident the past few months. She had lived an exceptionally long and active life and despite her age leaves many friends who will miss her company.
Her funeral services will be 11 A.M., Wednesday, December 20, 2006 with a visitation one hour prior to services at the First United Methodist Church of Fairbury with Rev. Charles McDonald officiating. Burial will take place in Graceland Cemetery, Fairbury. Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury has charge of arrangements.
She was born Mildred Pauline Fischer October 16, 1910 in Pike Township, Livingston County, the third of five children of Fred and Anna (Friesleben) Fischer. She attended a one-room country school through eighth grade and then went to Pontiac High School, from which she graduated. She spent one year at Illinois State Normal University where she completed the requirements for a license to teach in country schools. She taught in several schools in Livingston County, including the one she herself had attended, the Fischer School.
She married Dr. F. H. Miller, a Fairbury dentist, on June 12, 1936. She moved the short distance to Fairbury where she lived the rest of her life, the vast majority of that time in the home which she and Doc built in 1938. She was active in the community, especially the First United Methodist Church and the Dominy Memorial Library. She served on the board of the library for a remarkable 58 years.
She is survived by a son, Thomas (Mary Ryan-Miller) of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, three grandsons and two great-granddaughters as well as a number of nieces and nephews. She is also survived and will be remembered by her numerous friends, especially her dear and close friend, Jean Sutter, who saw her daily until the very end.
She was notable for keeping her mind active throughout her life. She did at least one crossword puzzle a day for many years. She was an avid reader virtually all of her life, up to the last few weeks, and read literally thousands of books, mainly fiction. She also enjoyed bridge, often playing two or three times a week until the last year or two of her life. At the same time, she was not reclusive and enjoyed seeing numerous friends. The last few years she was a fixture at Dave's, sometimes going for coffee and conversation twice a day. She traveled widely in her life as she and Doc drove all over the United States and traveled in Europe before his death in March of 1989.
Her parents, two brothers and two sisters, her husband, and a stillborn son, William, preceded her in death.
Memorials in her memory may be directed to the First United Methodist Church of Fairbury or to the Dominy Memorial Library.