Helen M Miller

Helen M. (Ellspermann) Miller, age 96, of Evansville, passed away Wednesday, June 10, 2015 at the Heritage Center surrounded by family. Mrs. Miller was born October 23, 1918 in Evansville to the late Carl and Rosa Catherine (Diehl) Ellspermann. Helen's life was framed by her selfless service of others beginning early with assisting in the care of her seven younger siblings after her father's passing. Upon graduating high school, she married Bert Miller, her high school sweetheart. As a young married woman with two babies, she saw Bert, off to WWII and assisted both their families during his three year absence. Over the years, Helen and Bert's home became a place for many, family and friends alike, to seek solace, peace and quiet, especially the monks of St. Meinrad Archabbey. In their later years, the family home became the prime destination of their grandchildren. Climbing the old apple tree in the back yard was a rite of passage for each of them. Helen was a member of Holy Redeemer Church for 56 years and was active with the Benedictine Oblates. Helen enjoyed a wide range of hobbies. She actively participated in her bridge club for 50 years building friendships that have sustained her throughout life. Countless hours were spent watching and identifying birds near her home. The hybrid tea roses Helen nurtured in her back yard were a great source of enjoyment and pride; she would inspect them daily with her first cup of coffee. Idle hands were alien to Helen as she spent many winter evenings embroidering or piecing quilts. One could count themselves quite special to be gifted her needlework. Good food was her trademark and gatherings, large or small, her specialty. Helen proudly carried forward her mother's springerle baking tradition at Christmas to the next generation. Her weekly routine of baking pies every Friday became common knowledge. Everyone knew Friday evenings were a good time to visit. Surviving Helen are three daughters and their husbands, Donna and John Hamilton, Mary Helen and Allan Knapp and Rebecca and Thomas Jankowski and a son and his wife, Mark and Jackie Miller, all of Evansville; a sister and brother-in-law, Yvonne and Dan Sheek of Greenwood, IN and a brother and sister-in-law, Vincent and Ruth Ellspermann of Summerville, FL; daughter-in-law, Patricia Miller O’Risky and Jim of Evansville; fourteen grandchildren, Bert Jr. and Jeffrey Miller, Rachel Piekarski, Nicholas Hamilton, Angela Siesky, Brian Knapp, Laura Masterson, Melanie Knapp, Thomas Jr. and Daniel Jankowski, Mary Beth Curry, Zach, Greg and Joe Miller and seventeen great grandchildren. In addition to her parents, Helen was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, Bert Miller in 1995; by a daughter, Mary Beth Miller in 1950; a son, Bert A. Miller in 1993; by a sister, Rosie Schultheis, four brothers, Rev. Gerard, Charles, George and Rev. Camillus Ellspermann and by two infant brothers, Francis and Johnny Ellspermann. A Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10:00 A.M. on Tuesday, June 16, 2015 at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, Rev. Paul Ferguson officiating. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery. Friends may visit with the family from 2:00 until 7:00 P.M. on Monday at Pierre Funeral Home, 2601 W. Franklin Street, where there will be a memorial service conducted by the church at 6:30 P.M. Friends may also visit with the family from 9:30 A.M. until service time on Tuesday at Holy Redeemer Church. Memorial contributions may be made to Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, 918 W. Mill Road, Evansville, IN 47710 or to St. Meinrad Archabbey, 200 Hill Drive, St. Meinrad, IN 47577-9903.

Helen M Miller

October 23, 1918 - June 10, 2015