ALICE MARIE MILLER

October 31, 1932 - April 15, 2017

Alice Marie (Esch) Miller, 84, died on Holy Saturday, April 15, 2017, at home surrounded by her family. She was born to Valentine and Cyrilla (Klug) Esch on October 31, 1932 at the Houston County Poor Farm, Caledonia , Minnesota, where her parents were the administrators at that time. Alice attended schools in Caledonia, then took correspondence courses to further her education. She grew up and assisted with the care of the elderly and disabled at the Houston County Poor Farm which later became the Evergreen Rest Home. Through the years she had other employment including clerking, waitressing and bookkeeping. She was later employed for 25 years at the Houston County Group Homes, now known as ABLE. She married Dennis Joseph Miller on August 13, 1955 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Caledonia, Minnesota. Dennis preceded her in death on November 29, 2012. She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, the Council of Catholic Women and Catholic Daughters of America. Alice and her husband , Dennis, initiated interest in organizing the Houston County ARC in 1961, to help build awareness of the disabled and mentally handicapped. Alice was an avid collector of writing instruments for over 45 years, and belonged to the American Pen Collectors Society. Other interests included scrap booking, local history, history of Minnesota Poor farms, collecting yearbooks and books by local authors. She is survived by her six children: Denise (Tony) Stachnik, Avon, MN; Daniel Jay Miller , Caledonia, MN; Darla (Tim) Schuck, Cheltenham, PA; Dean Miller, Elk River, MN; Diane (Daryl) Vonderohe, Caledonia, MN; Dawn (Erik) Junkunc, Libertyville, IL; nine grandchildren: Jessica (Eric) Servais, Emily (Paul) Zygmunt, John Stachnik; Danielle Schuck; Andrew, Ashley, and Kyle Junkunc; Derek and Devin Vonderohe; two great grand children: Emerson and Theo Servais. One sister, Margie (Odell) Bratland, Chanhassen, MN; one brother, Mark (Janice) Esch, Shakopee, MN; Three sisters-in-law; Marlene Esch, Caledonia, MN; Joanne Powers, Dayton, OH; Mildred Boling, Grand Junction, CO; and a brother-in-law, Donald H. Miller, Belton, MO; and many nieces and nephews. Alice was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, brother Myles Esch, sister and brother-in-law, Bob and Lorraine Chappie, brothers-in-law David Miller, Thomas Miller, Jim Boling, Walter Powers, sister-in-law Rita Miller, and godchild Christy Chappie. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 am, Thursday, April 20, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Caledonia. Father Matthew Fasnacht will officiate and burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Caledonia. Visitation will be from 4:00 to 7:00 pm,Wednesday, April 19, at McCormick Funeral Home, 205 E. Main, Caledonia, with the rosary at 3:30 pm and a 7:00 pm prayer service. Visitation will also be from9:30-10:30 am Thurs. morning at church before Mass. McCormick Funeral Home, Caledonia is assisting the family.