Celebration of Life for Lynn
Date and time
Sat, 11 September 2021
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM MDT
Location
Coast Nisku Inn & Conference Centre
1101 4 Street
Nisku, AB T9E 7N1
Please Register
Due to possible COVID restriction changes, as well to plan for the number attending, we please ask that if you are planning on attending, please CLICK HERE to register at eventbrite.
Welcome to the
Mary “Lynn” Miller
Memorial Webpage
Mary “Lynn” Miller
June 5, 1945 – May 20, 2020
Our entire family is at a loss and are very sad to announce the passing of our Wife, Sister, Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother and Friend, Mary “Lynn” Miller, on May 20, 2020, at just 74 years old, after a lengthy and admirable struggle with Alzheimer’s. She peacefully passed with family by her side.
She was born Mary Lynn Ward on June 5, 1945 in Regina, Saskatchewan and the eldest child to parents Truman and Mary Ward. She was born while her father Truman was overseas in London, England serving in the war effort and did not meet her father until she was nearly a year old.
Lynn met a local boy named Alvin “Al” Findley Miller and they were married on April 28, 1961. They initially lived in Brandon, Manitoba with Al’s sister Sharon and her husband Jack. Soon after, Lynn gave birth to their first son, Darcy Evan, on July 19, 1961. They moved to Weyburn where their second son Todd was born on April 19, 1963. Todd was born premature and sadly died after one day on this earth on April 20, 1963. They moved to Calgary near the end of 1963. Their third son, Michael Alvin was born on June 1, 1964. The family moved around the country a lot, following Al’s work, which included Ft. St. John, B.C., Chetwynd, B.C., Ft. Macleod, Alberta and finally ended up back in Calgary. On July 23, 1968 Lynn and Al welcomed their first daughter Carla Lynn to the world. In 1973 Al was transferred from Calgary to Edmonton where they lived until 1989, when they moved to their current home in the Okanagan. Lynn is survived by her loving husband of 59 years Al, sister Dianne (Darryl) Carr from Vernon, brother Robin Victor Ward from Calgary, three children Darcy (Joan) Miller, Michael (Mary Ellen) Miller, Carla (Ron) Heim, her seven grandchildren Ryan (Cara) Miller, Shelby (Phil) Rankin, Sarah (Parker) Thomas, Brandon (Sorchae) Miller, Nolan Heim, Evan Miller, Tyler Heim, and her four great grandchildren Lexi Thomas, Maverick Miller, and the twins born only four weeks before her passing Mya and Jack Thomas.
Lynn was a dedicated mother first and foremost and was so full of Love. She treasured her children and embraced every moment with them. She especially loved her role as Nanny. She had a gentle personality and was a true mother placing everyone else’s needs in front of her own. She was a strong, silent soul that made many friends everywhere she went or encountered. Lynn was a wonderfully gifted homemaker and mother, which she embraced with passion and brilliance. Lynn was an exceptionally gifted artist, however, was too humble about the beautiful artistic pieces she created. These pieces now memorialize her talents and are encompassed throughout her various family’s homes. She loved all kinds of music and especially found comfort in her favorite melodies in the later years. Lynn was always an active participant in life and liked water skiing, snow skiing, aerobics, painting, crafts, reading, music or being walked by her pets that she adored. It is a well-known fact that Lynn and Al’s pets were treated royally and included Niki, Cindy, Professor, Brandy, Coco, Harry, Teddy and just recently Becky. All were very lucky to have Al and Lynn as their loving humans.
Lynn will forever be missed but never forgotten. She will live on within her children, grand-children and great grandchildren forever. Her kindness, beauty and thoughtfulness will be a lasting legacy as we forever remember her beautiful soul. Due to the current COVID-19 situation there will not be a service and we hope to honour her life and love through this website memorial. In lieu of flowers please feel free to make a donation to the Alzheimer Society of Canada https://alzheimer.ca/en/Home. Online condolences may be expressed to the family through her memorial website at https://www.marylynn.ca .
Daughter, Sister, Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother, Friend and Beautiful Elegant Lady to all.
The following was written by Darcy on the morning after Mom’s passing that we are pleased to share:
What do ya do when the empty, angry, sad voice on the other end announces that she’s gone? When two hours ago you recited the prayer she taught you, praying for the lord to take my soul should I not wake. When you knew as soon as you heard the phone what the news was! Looking at flushed eyes in the reflection of the mirror, you know that it was she who gave you those eyes and so much of who you are, has now departed this world. This is something you thought you were prepared for, but maybe not!
All that comes to my mind is; Thank you!
Thank you, Lord, for easing her pain and giving back her dignity as she comes to you whole again. Thank you for 59 years of love that knew no bounds, for giving me all that I am. Thank you for placing her in that position that would have seemed heartless at 15 years of age, but as we have learned, you knew that it would be her destiny, her destiny to help build this glorious family of love. Thank you for giving her to teenage Dad to support and care for, in a lonely empty world, where love is truly the real gem. Thank you for giving me that voice of reason that was always compassionate and balanced, always careful and caring that I carry in my head to this day.
Thank you, Lord, for her guidance and knowledge, her quiet passion for you and her humor. Thank you for her drive to introduce us to new things, like cottage cheese! And her patience to clean up after Michael’s introduction to cottage cheese!
She raised us and managed our household independently, without a driver’s license, taking the bus, taxi or a kind neighbor’s help to get groceries and necessities of life. When I was young, she was alone with us much of the time as Dad’s work had him either driving truck or working all over the country. I think back to the freedom I had at five years of age on Elbow Drive, wandering and exploring the Chinook Park area, it seemed without boundaries. Auntie Sharon was always there for her, as our two families shared a special bond navigating a very different world. I reflect now on life and realize that I won the lottery in 1961, being born in Canada, in the 1960’s to truly the best parents in the world. Her strength of character allowed her to filter out the noise of the day and give us consistent calm guidance. We had moral support from Mom’s family, 100 miles south of us in Fort McCleod, but as I remember, it was always us against the world. We always did everything together as a family. We didn’t have much money then and mom stretched every penny, we had everything though, because we had each other. We have continued to share our lives with her grandchildren and great grandchildren and I honestly can’t think of any regrets! My heart is filled with pride for our Miller family. She so loved music, my last time with her was filled with her gentle humming tunes that gave her, and me, peace and tranquility.
Thank you Lord, for the time we had and the pure Joy she has brought to our lives. Thank you to Dad and Carla for caring for her through these difficult years, months and days with so much love and kindness and being there for her as she passed.
We will gather again as a family to support each other, but without our matriarch, life will be different. There is a hole in my heart that I don’t know will ever be filled, but I take comfort in knowing she has returned home to you Lord as the beautiful, gentle kind soul that you blessed in our lives.
We won’t be sad…..We’ll be glad…..For all the life we’ve had!!