 Sister Helen Miller (formerly Sister John of the Eucharist) died at Saint Joseph Villa on November 29, 2009. Her life was eulogized at the Villa on December 18 by Sister Anne Myers. Helen marked 80 years as a Sister of Saint Joseph and is mourned deeply by her loving sister in religion, S. Marjorie Miller.
Born in Altoona, Pennsylvania, in 1911, Helen was the second child of George and Helen Miller. Although five daughters were born to the Millers, only three survived; Regina and Marjorie were the other girls, who also entered religious life. Their dear father died in the flu epidemic of 1918, leaving mother and daughters to fend for themselves. Mrs. Miller, a young widow, a gifted seamstress, was able to support her three daughters by working as a corsetiere for a corporation based at that time in Allentown. Mrs. Miller did, however, have to relocate to Pittsburgh. It was there in Baden with Sisters of Saint Joseph that the two older girls received their education at the congregational boarding school. This fortunate placement came about because the girls’ father had two first cousins in the community. Marjorie, the youngest, was taken under the wing of an aunt in Altoona. After many moves, separations, and temporary living situations, Mrs. Miller appealed to the Bishop of Altoona, Bishop John McCourt, for advice. It was he who suggested the girls attend Fontbonne and Mount Saint Joseph Academies, respectively. Mrs. Miller insisted the girls should not be separated; thus their enrollment in Saint Joseph Academy in McSherrystown.
In 1928, around Christmastime, Helen told her mother of her desire to enter the Sisters of Saint Joseph. The dutiful Helen offered, however, to work to assist mother and sisters, but her mother said in reply: “I always knew it. You go ahead. We’ll be all right. I won’t stand in your way.” In 1929 Helen entered the Sisters of Saint Joseph. Later, her two other sisters would also enter religious life, Regina to the Sisters of the Visitation (Sister Mary Paul) and Marjorie to the Sisters of Saint Joseph (Sister Helen Theresa). Mrs. Miller confided to her daughters that when she lost two babies and thought she might not have more children, she prayed to God and made a promise to give back to Him any child that he would give her! In God’s Providence, Helen’s mother would remarry and bring renewed joy to the family, with the daughters’ approval and blessing.
For many years, Sister Helen taught in grades two through eight. She was principal and local coordinator, missioned in several states, including North Carolina and Florida. When her teaching days were over, she ministered in Pastoral Care. Her relational presence was described as calm, gracious, loving, pleasant and selfless. On her 91st birthday, for example, while at Saint Andrew’s in Bayonne, she requested that instead of a special birthday dinner, the Sisters be given $10. each to spend at the parish carnival. As a surprise, the Sisters contacted Bayonne City Hall and had a Proclamation drawn up. On the closing night of the carnival, current and former mayors of Bayonne presented the Proclamation to Sister Helen honoring her for her for her outstanding contribution to the education of youth, her administrative abilities, and her many years in parish ministry.
It was at this last mission in Saint Andrew’s Active Senior House in Bayonne that Helen at age 75 was active as CCD instructor and Eucharistic Minister. Marjorie joined her therein 1996. Both retired to the Villa in 2003. Natural sisters and religious sisters, they enjoyed the peace and satisfaction that years of selfless serving and giving yield. |
