Emilie Miller believes that at her age, she has attained her goal. “Have a comfortable home, a happy marriage, healthy and ‘above average’ children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, and leave some mark in my church and community.”
Because of Emilie’s family’s financial situation growing up, she could not attend the university of her choice. She put herself through and graduated from the South Bend College of Commerce while living at home. After graduation, Emilie worked for Bendix Aviation Corporation and was able to work as a secretary. She also worked at ABB (previously known as Industrial Nucleonics and AccuRay) for 14 years as a Computer Help Desk associate. Now retired, Emilie volunteers at Our Lady of Victory Church in the Marble Cliff area. She has been so helpful to not only the church community, but the community outside the church doors. Her list of involvement in the church includes being an Artisan; Bereavement Luncheon provider; member of the Welcoming Committee, the Liturgy Committee, the Women’s Club, and the church choir; plus managing the Parish Life Center.
Emilie also volunteers as a member of Purls and Prayer Knitting Group. Purls and Prayer provides handmade shawls to people in need of support, many of whom are fighting sickness or diseases such as cancer. The members refuse payment for their shawls but will, however, accept donations of yarn and other materials or help from volunteers to knit or crochet.
Along with all of the volunteer work that Emilie does, she is most proud of her marriage of 61 years to her husband Richard, and her seven children – Mark, Steven, Christopher, David, Debra, Cathy, and Lisa. “My husband always reminds me that if you have talent….you better use it or you will lose it!” With everything that Emilie is involved with, she usually takes some quiet time off and plans in her mind each event. I think about what and how I will do things and, almost, all of the time, I find the time.”
When asked what change Emilie would like to make in the world, she said, “the world is a beautiful place, created majestically and magnificently. I could not or would not be able to change it.” Emilie would like to tell others that “the time and talent you give to others will always come back to you in some sort of blessing and goodwill.
In the future, Emilie hopes to befriend young people and pass on her talents to them so they could be the “makers and shakers” of the future.