Rita A. Miller

Rita Ann (Struthers) Miller, 88, of San Antonio, Texas, passed away Wednesday, January 3, 2024, after an extended illness. Rita was born on October 28, 1935 in Marquette, Michigan to Mervin and Ann (Yonkosky) Struthers. She graduated from Bishop Baraga High School and attended Northern Michigan University in Marquette. Rita’s first job was at The Mining Journal in Marquette, which she left to begin raising her family of six children. When her children were old enough, she started working outside the home. She spent the majority of her 20-year career working at Trinity University as a secretary in the Environmental Studies and Economics departments. In her last position, she was the secretary of the Economics Chair and had the opportunity to type a few of his books and to meet Economic scholars from all over the world. She really loved this position and put off retirement as long as she could.

Rita was a devoted and loving wife and mother who took great care of her family and home. She was a wonderful cook who made almost everything from scratch, including breads and sweet rolls, which often seemed to be coming out of the oven just as her children arrived home from school. In addition to taking care of her family and working, Rita loved to garden, sew, and collect things…from recipes to beach rocks from Lake Superior, seashells, and leaves. She saw beauty in so many things that many of us didn’t notice or took for granted. But most of all, Rita loved to listen to, dance to, and play music. Although she played a few different instruments in school, her true loves were the piano and organ. She was taught by nuns to play the pipe organ in high school at St. Peter Cathedral in Marquette. As an adult, she also played the organ at her church and sang in the choir for many years. You could also hear her play the piano at home, often practicing the hymns she would play at church.

Rita was a kind and gentle soul who was loved by all who knew her, including all the people that helped take care of her in her final years. Her family would like to thank the staff at Adante Assisted Living and Memory Care (especially Jessica and Yvette), the staff at Hope Hospice (especially Maria, Christina, BJ and Ashley), and most importantly her private caregiver of five years, Martha, for taking such great care of our mom.

Rita is survived by her children Cathy (Joseph) Webb, Carolyn Miller, Ann Miller, daughter-in-law Mary Miller, grandchildren Lauren (Tanner) Neidhardt, Joseph (Hollis) Webb III, Jami (Juan Carlos) Morales, Daniel (Jen) Webb, great-grandchildren Joseph Webb IV, Patrick Webb, Chloe Morales, Emme Morales, Jasper Webb, Gloria Webb, and her niece Laurelle Ann Parent. Rita was preceded in death by her husband John (Jack) Miller, sons Patrick Miller, Michael Miller, Tom Miller, parents Mervin and Ann Struthers, siblings Elsie Parent, Wilbur Struthers, Mervin Struthers, Jr., and nephew Leon Parent.

Visitation and funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, January 11, 2024 at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 600 Oblate Dr., San Antonio, TX 78216. The visitation will start at 10:30 a.m. with the funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery, 17501 Nacogdoches Rd., San Antonio, TX 78266.