Betty Jane Miller passed away peacefully at her home in Raleigh, NC on January 18, 2016. Betty lived in her home in Raleigh for over 50 years. She was a loving and loyal friend, neighbor, wife, mother, grand, great, and great great grandmother who dedicated her life to the joy and well-being of her family. Betty was the epitome of a generation that knew the hardships of life but always overcame them with strength and dignity.

Betty was born on February 8, 1921 and raised in Hallstead, PA. She grew up an orphan after losing her parents at a very early age. Raised by relatives, life was not easy as a child but she persevered, finished high school in the top of her class, and fell in love.

She met and married her husband James S. Miller and started a family. Her first child, James (Jimmy), gave her the sense of family she had lost so early in her life. Not long after his birth, her husband would leave to serve his country. Betty raised her son while working in a mattress factory while her husband was away at war for over eighteen months.

Upon his return from war, Betty was blessed with two more children. Marian (Mimi) and Richard (Rick) completed the family that she would spend the rest of her life raising and loving. They moved to Raleigh, NC in 1965 where they settled and remained. Betty and James were married for over fifty years. They worked together as a team to make sure their children would have the best they could offer.

Betty’s strength would be tested again as she lost her first son and husband to cancer within three months of each other. She would continue to live and take care of herself in her family home for the next twenty years. Those that knew her were amazed by her ability to live independently well into her 90s.

She is loved and survived by her two children Marian and Richard Miller along with a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, great great grandchildren, and wonderful friends and neighbors. In the south we add family when we find exceptional people that we love. Betty considered her neighbors, Rachel and Phil Watkins as her special family.

Betty lived a simple but full life. She was not a person of extravagance and desired a simple graveside service upon her passing. In honor of her wishes, her family will hold a grave side celebration of her life at Pine Forest Cemetery on April 8, 2016 at 11:00 AM.

Betty loved flowers so in her honor please refrain from sending flowers until we all meet to celebrate her life in April. Flowers may be sent for delivery on April 7th to Pine Forest Memorial Gardens, 770 Stadium Drive, Wake Forest, NC 27588 care of Betty Miller.