CLARA MILLER

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CLARA MILLER Clara Miller (Zierk) passed away peacefully at home on June 18, 2011 surrounded by her loving family. Four generations of family were at her bedside Saturday evening which is a testament to the love she gave and received in return. Clara, also affectionately known as Mom or Nanny was predeceased by her father William in 1955, brother Paul in 1956, mother Ottillia in 1982, sister Anne in 1991, father-in-law, Harry in 1962, and mother-in-law, Agnes in 1981. Mom was born in Beausejour in her parent's home on August 21, 1928 where she grew up and spent her youth until she moved to Winnipeg as a young woman and began working at the Irish Linen Store. On a weekend holiday at Winnipeg Beach she met the love of her life Fred whom she married and raised a family. She did this often for long periods alone when Dad was away serving our great country. Mom will be lovingly remembered and deeply missed by her devoted husband of 65 years Fred, son Fred Jr. (Terry Charne), daughter Judy (Ron) Muller, three grandchildren Paul (Tina) Miller, Cheryl (Bill) Kehler, Karen (Sean) Hubbard and five great-grandchildren Joshua and Hannah Kehler and Thomas, Sarah and Adam Hubbard well as her brother Sam Zierk. Mom gave her life to Christ and was baptized in 1993 along with her daughter Judy and granddaughter Karen. She was very much the Matriarch of the family and was often consulted for advice by all family members. Mom, along with Dad, cared for many elderly friends who could not fully help themselves. Most family dinners, no matter the host, saw Mom take a plate of food to a friend she was helping. Mom's pleasures were simple but her greatest pleasures involved family, be it sharing a meal together, gathering at the lake or watching her great-grandchildren play. The Gull Lake cottage was a family meeting place where everyone participated in both work and play. Here she enjoyed going for paddle boat rides, playing lawn darts, tending to her gardens, playing cards and watching TV. She loved watching CFL football and knew all the rules. She looked forward to warm winter vacations with Hawaii and Mexico being her favourite destinations. Mom and Dad became experienced cruisers and on their last cruise in 2010 they won the cruise ship's version of the newlywed game. Mom also had an adventurous side which she demonstrated at the age of 60 when she went body surfing at the famous north shore in Hawaii as a non swimmer. Then at the age of 62 she and her son Fred Jr. enjoyed the experience of parasailing together in Mexico. Mom was a hard worker and passed this ethic on to her family. She worked in sales at Eatons, at our neighbourhood grocery store Scottie s and ended her career with Sears Canada. While working for Sears she won many awards but her greatest achievement was winning the national award for credit card promotions in Canada. Mom was always gentle and caring but she also had her feisty side that some learned the hard way. A notable example occurred many years ago when she single handedly took on the City for the betterment of the neighborhood where the family lived. Mom proved not only can you fight City Hall but you can also win. Mom was cremated on June 21, 2011 exactly two months short of her 83rd birthday. Friends are invited to gather with the family at a memorial service dedicated to the joy she has shared in her life and brought to so many. This service will take place at McDermot Avenue Baptist Church located at 821 McDermot Ave. at Tecumseh Street at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 30, 2011. Mom was always thinking of others and in doing so her wishes were that, instead of flowers, donations should be made to the Lung Association and to the Alzheimer's Association. The entire family will miss her so much and all her special ways. We will miss being serenaded on our birthday by her and dad singing Happy Birthday to us on the phone, her famous homemade dill pickles, soups, spaghetti dinners, cabbage rolls, her special chicken recipe, sauerkraut, Christmas pudding and sauce, her collection of dolls and stuffed animals, the knitted slippers she made for her family and the praying hand stickers on all her cards. Mom loved animals, so when their beloved pet dog Tiger died in 2005 she cried with Dad. She was proud person but not vain and always wanted to look her best for every occasion. There is so much more we could add but most importantly we will miss her unconditional love. Mom had the most beautiful smile and will be dearly missed by all who knew her.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 25, 2011