Patricia Miller

Patricia R. """"Pat"""" Miller"", nee Otto,89, of Whitefish Bay in Door County Wisconsin, was called home on Sunday (December 16, 2012) while at Lake Barrington Woods Home in Lake Barrington, IL.

Pat was born April 11, 1923 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin the daughter of the late Henry William and Laurentia Caroline (Goll) Otto. She was graduated from Messmer High School in 1941. Pat had entered the convent of School Sisters of St. Francis on Layton Blvd. before her life turned to her education and mission to help others. She received her undergraduate degree in music from Alverno College before receiving her Masters in Music Education with an emphasis on Music Therapy. She continued her educational pursuits and received a Master’s Degree in Pastoral Ministry in 1972.

Prior to her work at International Harvester in 1958, she worked with Music Therapy at Beatty Memorial Hospital in Westville, Indiana and Logansport State Hospital in Logansport, Indiana. In 1965 she was retained as parish organist and director of Religious Education at St. Thomas of Villanova for three years before her employ at St. Colette’s in Rolling Meadows, IL. then attended the Pastoral Institute at Loyola in 1972, and working at St. James Parish at Arlington Heights.

She married John Henry Miller on December 27, 1958 at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago, IL. He preceded her in death on May 30, 1977.

Following John’s death in 1977 she was hired at Allstate Insurance in 1978 and retired there in 1990 as Senior Administrative Assistant. She eventually moved to Door County full time to her parents’ home in Whitefish Bay. Pat then started her ministry there as the RCIA director at S.S. Peter and Paul Catholic Parish with Fr. Reinke. She sang in the church choir and filled in as church organist when needed.

She was a member of S.S. Peter and Paul Catholic Parish in Institute near Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. Other memberships included Door Property Owners with Emeritus status, Door County League of Women Voters, Whitefish Bay Neighborhood Association, Town of Sevastopol Government meetings observer and Door County Environmental Conservancy.

Pat’s faith life and enriching that faith in others was very important to her as was her commitment to Catholic education, and children’s literacy. She loved music, good theatre, literature and reading a good book.

Survivors include her three loving children, Mark (Jenny Lee) Miller of Lake in the Hills, Illinois, Dr. Laurence “Larry” Miller of Springfield, Illinois, Mary Pat (Tom) Zolna of Arlington Heights, Illinois; three loving grandchildren, Emily Belle Miller, Michael John Zolna, Daniel Richard Zolna; a sisters-in-law, Elizabeth “Betty” Otto and Barbara Bufalini and many dear nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death were her husband, John, her parents; her son and twin to Mary Pat, John Michael, and her brothers, Charles William (1983) and Lawrence Otto (2012)

A visitation will be held on Thursday, from 4-9 p.m. with a Prayer Service and memorial at 7 p.m. at St. Anne Church, 120 N. Ela Street, ( corner of Franklin and Ela sts.), Barrington. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday at 11 a.m., where she will lie in state from 10 a.m. until the time of Mass at S.S. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Institute, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. Burial will be at S.S. Peter and Paul Cemetery.

For information please call Davenport Family Funeral Homes,"" (847) 381-3411 or to place an on-line condolence visit www.Davenportfamily.com or www.huehnsfuneralhome.com