Mary J. Miller

Mary J. Miller, age 82, of Bradenton, FL, formerly of Elburn, passed from this life to eternal life on August 20, 210 following complications from surgery. BORN: She was born January 17, 1928 on the family farm in Virgil the daughter of Lowell D. and Ruth (Lees) Oranger.EARLY YEARS:Mary grew up in the rural Elburn area and attended local schools. Mary graduated from Plato Center High School and worked at the Kane County Bank as a teller. MARRIAGE: Shortly after graduation, Mary was united in marriage to her high school sweetheart, Dean D. Miller on the Mary’s family farm on February 20, 1947.RESIDENTIAL HISTORY: They began their new life together on Dean’s family farm on Lees Rd. where they both farmed side by side for many years. Later Dean and Mary began farming in Hampshire for a time before Dean worked as a hired man and lived on the Horlock farm in the Campton Hills area. They lived a short time on Annie Margaret’s farm down the road from their parents before leaving the fields behind for a home in Elburn in 1959. OCCUPATION / WORK HISTORY:When they welcomed their daughter Frances in 1947, Mary cleaned local houses. Later, Mary returned to the world of banking, eventually becoming the first woman Vice President at Kane County Bank in Elburn. After retiring in 1991, they sold their home in Elburn and split their time between their vacation home in Apple Canyon Lake and Bradenton, FL, soaking in the sunshine and celebrating their love and life with every sunset. Eventually they stayed in Florida and spent the next twelve years making enough memories to last a lifetime. MEMBERSHIPS: Mary was a life-long member of the Hardin Neighborhood Club. LIFE NOTES: She had a heart that yearned to serve and was always looking for ways to help her family, friends and neighbors. Everyone loved to go shopping with her because they knew that if they were patient, they would be treated to lunch and later an ice cream. At home and in the yard, Mary was an organizer plain and simple. There was a place for everything and everything had its place. She was also an outdoorswoman who had the gift of gardening. Her green thumb brought forth the most beautiful flowers every season. Mary loved to golf, bowl and watched football, especially her beloved Chicago Bears. While in Bradenton, Mary became the Social Chairwoman by default and the neighborhood hasn’t been the same since. Her family was the most important thing in her life and she celebrated that love with every look, action and embrace. SURVIVORS: She is survived by her husband Dean D. Miller of Bradenton, FL; Her daughter Frances (Tom) Wilson of Rockford, IL ;Three grandchildren :Kelly (Tony) Demakis and their children Jack Thomas and Grace Olivia, of Crystal Lake, IL,Angie (Dan) Adams of Wheaton, IL and Michael (Jenn) Wilson and their children Peyton Allyse and Logan Michael, of Rockford, IL;One brother-in-law, Richard Landwehr, PRECEDED:She is preceded in death by her parents, two siblings: Beverly Landwehr and Lowell H. Oranger; and one daughter, Carol Ann Miller who died in infancy. VISITATION / FUNERAL Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m., Thursday, August 26, 2010 at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St. Elburn, IL, 60119. A funeral service to celebrate her life will begin at 11 a.m., Friday, August 27, also at the funeral home. Rev. David Petty, pastor of Calvary Memorial Church in Rockford, will officiate with interment to follow at Blackberry Township Cemetery in Elburn. MEMORIAL A memorial has been established in her name. Checks may be made to the "Mary Miller Memorial" and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, 60119. Tributes may also be forwarded to the same address or on the web at www.conleycare.com.

Her visitation will be held on Thursday August 26, 2010 from 5-8PM at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn, IL. A service to celebrate her life will be held on Friday August 27, 2010 at 11:00 AM with visitation from 10-10:45 at the funeral home, Rev. David Petty of Rockford will officiate.

Interment will follow at Blackberry Township Cemetery.