Sylvia Marie Miller died at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, May 21, at her home in Goshen, Ind. She had been diagnosed with cancer in January. She was born November 25, 1938, in Salem, Ohio, the eldest child of John and Mildred (Metzler) Steiner.
She was baptized as a young girl in Kansas. A graduate of Bethany Christian High School (1956) and Goshen College (1959), Sylvia married Donald C Miller on September 5, 1959, in Goshen. They vowed upon their engagement: “together we will serve the Lord,” which they did together for more than 63 years. She welcomed into their home people of diverse ethnicities and cultures, both in her community and around the world, from stranded travelers to church dignitaries. She also served in church institutions, working as a secretary at Mennonite Media Ministries (Harrisonburg, Va.) and in Goshen College’s SST and International Education offices.
While she often worked outside the home, her greatest desire and proudest achievement was being a mother. Her immediate and extended families and cousins were a priority for her, as were the many friends she made in the communities in which she lived: Ohio, Kansas, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wyoming.
She is survived by her husband Don, sons Kevin (Lorene), Carey (Joani), daughter Carla (chosen through adoption), and bonus daughter Christine (Glenn) Stutzman; grandchildren Ethan Miller, Sophie Miller, Morganne Gent, Jeb (Lauren) Gent, Ada (James) Gandek, Brandon (Lindsay) Stutzman, Bradley (Tiffany) Stutzman, and Brady (Andrea) Stutzman; Great-grandchlidren Millie, JT, and Levi Gent; Madison, Annaliese, Noelle, Maximus, Ephraim, and Mario Stutzman. She was mother to four foster children: Mark, Rhonda, Kimmy, and Timmy. She is survived by four siblings: J (Lillian) Steiner, Wes (Margaret) Steiner, Janet (Mike) O’Malley, and Joan (Dave) Vogt, and many in-laws, nieces, and nephews.
Sylvia was a member of Waterford Mennonite Church. Her cremated remains are housed in the church columbarium. Her memorial service, held June 3 at the church, may be viewed at waterfordchurch.org/streaming/
