Wendy J. (Hill) Miller, 87, of West Chicago, Ill., died Oct. 8, 2025. A leading author and teacher of Christian spirituality, she was assistant professor emerita of spiritual formation at Eastern Mennonite Seminary in Harrisonburg, Va. Her husband for 65 years, Edmond F. Miller, died in October 2024.
She worked to restore contemplative spirituality within the church and academy, particularly in Mennonite and United Methodist contexts, training generations of laypersons and clergy in spiritual direction. Among her writings, Invitation to Presence: A Guide to Spiritual Disciplines has been translated into several languages.
She served at EMS for 19 years, including as campus minister, and helped establish its spiritual formation program. She also founded programs across the eastern and south-central United States and Canada. An ordained minister in Mennonite Church USA’s Virginia Conference, she continued her private spiritual direction practice until her death.
Born March 25, 1938, in Westham, England, she spent early childhood in London during the German Blitz of World War II and later lived in Eastbourne, East Sussex. She immigrated to the United States in 1959, settling in Chicago with her husband. In the late 1960s, the Millers served as missionaries in Frankfurt, Germany, and pastored churches in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Following retirement, they joined intentional communities in Texas and North Carolina before returning to Illinois.
She earned a bachelor’s degree from Iowa Wesleyan University, a master’s degree from EMS and a master of sacred theology from General Theological Seminary.
Her other books include Holy Living: Simplicity, Come with Me: Daily Living with a New Monastic Rule of Life, Jesus, Our Spiritual Director: A Pilgrimage through the Gospels and Learning to Listen: A Guide for Spiritual Friends.
She leaves five children, Paul (David Selmer) of Maine, David (Julie) of Georgia, Mark (Wendy) of Kansas, Scott (Laura) of Illinois and Heidi (Gary MacDonald) of Georgia; 14 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; three brothers and four sisters-in-law.
A full obituary is available at legacy.com/legacy/wendy-miller.
A memorial service will be celebrated at 1:30 p.m. Dec. 6 at St. Andrew United Methodist Church, Carol Stream, Ill.
