Geraldine Miller

Born on the east side of Detroit, Geraldine was raised by parents Marie & Frank, who brought up her brother Art to have traditional Polish Catholic values. Growing up, Gerry formed a deep connection with her dad, a Detroit police officer. She loved listening to his stories and going for Sunday drives in his car to attend church, get ice cream or take a long drive to his family's farm in Pennsylvania.

During her school years at St. Thomas Apostle in Detroit, Gerry had many cherished friendships and got a kick out of going to Lake Orion beach, school dances and sporting events. She was secretary of her senior class and a forward on the women’s basketball team. While Gerry only considered herself an average student, she surprised herself and the metro Detroit community when she was chosen by school administrators for the televised High School Quiz Show where she led her school comrades to a win!

Shortly after high school, Gerry was introduced to Ron, her future husband and soul mate, by mutual friends. They enjoyed going on double dates and cruising around in his convertible. They were soon engaged and married shortly after in 1958. Gerry also spent time working as a Security Admin at the Chrysler Missile Plant.

While Ron went to work, Gerry did the REAL work, of keeping a beautiful home, cooking nourishing meals and raising her three beloved daughters, Mary Ann, Laura and Sandra, to be confident, caring and hardworking women. As a family they enjoyed camping trips to Timber Shores in Northport, Michigan and trips Central Florida. Gerry’s daughters were her greatest joys in life. She loved watching them excel in school and sports and enjoyed being involved as their Girl Scout troop leader and PTA President. As the girls got a bit older and more independent, Gerry returned to work as a sales associate at Crowley’s department store where she loved helping young women build their wedding registries in the housewares department.

Gerry had many hobbies ranging from bowling league, collecting bird houses, reading Nora Ephron books, traveling on cruises to tropical destinations, pressing her luck on casino slots, cross country travels with Ron in their RV, and cheering for Detroit Pistons basketball & University of Michigan Football teams. She also had a very artistic side, loved perusing local craft shows and art festivals, or singing along at Jimmy Buffet, Eagles, Carole King and Wings Concerts. She was a self-proclaimed musical theater aficionado and loved Cats, West Side Story, Phantom, Fiddler, Joseph and Music Man, and in more recent times, could be found daily, belting out Les Mis in her living room. The whole city of Warren no doubt could “Hear the People Sing!”

Gerry was a devout Catholic and steadfast in her faith. She was an active parishioner at St. Malachy & St. Martin de Porres Church for over 50 years. At St. Martins she forged some of her most valued friendships with the Bereavement Committee and Active Christians Women’s Club where she was a chairperson for several years. Gerry believed in living life how God intended- by giving generously and seeking to serve others. She regularly volunteered at the Capuchin Soup Kitchen and Warren Food Bank and by supporting the Boys & Girls Club of Detroit and American Heart & Lung Associations.

Gerry’s favorite passion in life was being a Nana. She dedicated so much of her early retirement years to helping raise her grandchildren, Ashley, Erik, Alex and Hamilton. She loved garage sale-ing and singing polka with Ashley, playing backyard baseball (even though she was a “lousy pitcher”) with Erik & Alex, and loved mentoring Hamilton, encouraging her to remain focused, or just cruising around with her on her lap in her scooter. Nana was promoted to Great-Nana in 2019 when her great grandson, Riggins was born. They developed a silly relationship built on their collective love for soft blankets, fuzzy slippers and laughs about eating bugs (Lobster).

Geraldine would want to be remembered for being a fighter & survivor. She endured Breast Cancer, Pulmonary Hypertension & Afib. Despite these challenges, her faith in God carried her through and she always remained positive, remembering the joys of life, friends and family she held dear.

If she could leave those who loved her with some advice, she would ask you to remember: Be Kind Always & Never Stop Smiling- there’s so much to be grateful for and happy about when life is so beautiful.

Geraldine was the beloved wife of the late Ronald W. Miller. Loving mother of Mary Ann Miller, Laura (Dennis) Scheel, and Sandra (Dale) Greene. Cherished grandmother of Ashley (Lou) Currie, Erik Scheel, Alex Scheel, and Hamilton Greene. Adored great-grandmother of Riggins Currie. Dear sister of the late Arthur Werbinski.

Visitation for Geraldine will be held on Friday, August 30th from 4-8pm with a 4:30pm Rosary at the D.S. Temrowski & Sons Funeral Home, 30009 Hoover Road in Warren. She will lie In State on Saturday, August 31st from 10:30am until the time of her Funeral Mass at 11am at St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church, 31555 Hoover Rd, Warren, MI.

Please share memories of Geraldine at her guest book below.