Dorothy Dawe Miller

Dorothy Miller graduated from Holy Names University in Oakland, California, in 1952, after which she taught English at the Academy of the Holy Names in Silver Spring, Maryland. She joined the Tertiary Order of Saint Dominic, where she met her future husband, John T. Miller, Jr., married him in 1953, and raised nine children. While raising her children, she was a talented and prolific portrait artist, eventually earning a Masters of Fine Arts degree from Catholic University in 1978. After also earning a Masters of Social Work degree from CU in 1980, she worked as a clinical social worker for Catholic Social Services and other organizations for a period of about 20 years before retiring. Along the way, she did post-graduate study under Murray Bowen, MD, at the Georgetown Family Center; earned a PhD in Psychology; studied hypnotherapy; and used neuro-linguistic programming, drama therapy, and other techniques to develop her ideas of brief, effective and affordable therapy. She gave seminars on family relationships; wrote essays on social work and psychology; taught coping skills to junior high school students; volunteered at Project Rachel, counseling women who suffered from post-abortion trauma and depression; and supported pro-life causes.

In addition, she taught piano, the recorder and voice lessons. She was active in the Catholic Church, the Red Cross, Triad and CERT. Until about seven years ago, she enjoyed travelling to foreign countries, occasionally publishing travel articles. She was once an enthusiastic member of Mensa, the Mayflower Society, several folk dance groups, and various art and music associations. Her energy and enthusiasm poured over into other areas as well, such as sewing outfits and costumes for her children, genealogy and gardening.

She is survived by her nine children: Kent Miller, Lauren Mara Miller, Clare Miller, Miriam Miller, Mike Miller, Sheila Miller Dougherty, Lisa Miller, Colin Miller, and Meg Rydzewski; fourteen grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren, as well as her half-sisters Roberta Crowell of Richmond, Virginia, and Stephanie Shayne of Henderson, Nevada.

Her funeral took place at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Arlington, Virginia on February 1, 2020, and she was buried at The Evergreens Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York later that month. May she rest in peace.