Fernande Miller

Fern, as she was known, passed away peacefully on June 25, 2020. She was 81 years old.

She is predeceased by her loving husband of 50 years, Paul Miller; her parents, Roland and Madeleine Dumais; and her brother, Pierre Dumais. Fern is survived by her daughter, Michele (Barbara); sons, Mark (Joanne), John (Tina), and Alex (Pum); brother, Luc (Elise); sister-in-law, Gabrielle; grandchildren, Sophie (Mike), Nick, Sydney, Raquel, Gabrielle, Jael, Elijah, and Jonah; great-grandchildren, Everly and Colton; nephews, Patrick and Francis; niece, Dominique; loving companion, Fred Bancroft; and lifelong best friend, Frances Galland.

A true social butterfly with undeniable joie de vivre, Fern had a gift for making friends everywhere she went. Fern treasured her circle of close friends and family and enjoyed applying her considerable skills in cooking and entertaining. She loved to sing, sharing her talent with the choir at St. John the Evangelist church for many years. At home, she enjoyed serenading alongside her piano, guitar or karaoke machine, while a batch of fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies were sure to be found nearby. 

Fern always had a passion for staying active. Among her favorite pastimes were golf, tennis, shuffleboard, skating, skiing -- in the snow and water -- playing cards, reading, and knitting. Fern enjoyed many winters at Harbor Lights Community in St. Petersburg, Florida and many summers at her beloved family cottage in Sainte Marguerite du Lac Mason, Quebec.

The family is grateful to Pat DeWeese, Cheri Dumaw, Sandy Naumchick and the staff at the Friendly Home on Porter Place for the outstanding care provided in Fern’s last year as she bravely battled Parkinson’s Disease. 

Please join family and friends for a socially-distanced Memorial Mass, Saturday, 8/15, 10:00 AM, at St. John the Evangelist Church, 553 Humbolt St. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you please consider making a donation to the National Parkinson’s Foundation, 1000 Elmwood Ave., Rochester 14620 (shorturl.at/vOPUW) or the Michael J. Fox Foundation, Donation Processing, P.O. Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5014 (michaeljfox.org/donate).

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Fernande Miller, please visit our floral store.