Lee Miller (nee Lolita Mae Heavey) born on October 1, 1922, passed peacefully in the early morning of June 22, 2018; under hospice care at Hinsdale Hospital. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert G. Miller to whom she was married for 44 years. Also deceased are her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles P. Heavey; her brother, Jack Heavey; sister Betty and brother-in-law, Bertram Temple; and her twin sister, LaVerne Heavey Peters, and husband, Calvin Peters.
She will be greatly missed by her children: Jeanine M. Gendreau, now residing in Darien, IL; and Roger A. Miller, of Denver, Colorado. She also leaves behind a grandson, Dr. Robert A. Gendreau of Hartford, CT; granddaughter, Whitney Lee Gendreau Kenison residing in Norman, OK. with her husband, Jack and Lee’s only great-grandchild, Owen Robert Kenison.
She enjoyed a close relationship with her sister-in-law, Stephanie, Mrs. Jack Heavey, and her daughter, Tricia. Her longest and dearest friend of over seventy-five years, Sylvia Malicki of Darien, remembers working together during the World War II years; and the fun, travel, and great times they spent together until just recently. Lee was an active and adventuresome person; enjoying such hobbies as swimming and water skiing at the family summer home in Wisconsin.
She played tennis and enjoyed snow skiing up to the age of 90, at her condo in Snowbird, UT. A world-traveler, she was always ready for the next trip to Europe, or a cruise to somewhere warm during the Chicago winters. She enjoyed playing card games and was a member of several social/card groups.
After moving to Hinsdale in 1958, she worked at the local Tribune office-Merrill Printing, which published The Doings in the 1960’s. Lee was a life-long Catholic and a very active and devoted member of St. Isaac Jogues Catholic Church, Hinsdale, IL. Lee formed many church friendships over the past sixty years.
She joined various groups: playing bridge, golfing on Wednesdays, washing and ironing church linens for many years. She was on the committee for the last architectural renovation project and was responsible for organizing the parish photo/address directory for the 75th-anniversary edition in 2005. A lifelong devotion to the Blessed Mother, Lee was a long-standing member of the daily rosary group– always present, and rarely missed the following 5:00 pm daily mass.
Her volunteering extended to her surrounding community. She assisted along with Mr. & Mrs. Sherry at the Hinsdale town hall, mailing out public notices such as dog and cat license renewals. She also volunteered her time at Mays Lake, helping out with the mailings, and volunteered as a classroom assistant in the late 1990’s.
Her job was to teach classroom skills to handicapped elementary students. Lee was always eager to help but, was electronically challenged. She liked to recount that her time trying to teach computer skills, ended up with the students teaching her how to deal with computers.
A learning experience absorbed with her usual grace and dignity. For the past five years, Lee waited patiently, bearing her Alzheimer’s disease with a contented smile. She was a prayerful, kind and loving woman, with complete faith and trust in her Lord…we feel that she is now a welcome addition to heaven’s assembly.
A funeral mass will be held at St Isaac Jogues Catholic Church on Friday, June 29th; at 10:00-am. Friends may gather with the family in the Fireplace Room, at 9:00 am, prior to the mass where a final rosary will be said. Interment will follow at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside.
Following interment, a luncheon gathering will be held at The Clubhouse, Oakbrook Center. Memorials appreciated to the Society of the Little Flower, 1313 N. Frontage Road, Darien, IL 60561 or www.
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