Stephanie Elaine Miller

Born on January 5, 1951, in Louisville, KY, she was the beloved daughter of the late William and Barbara (Hayden) O’Bryan. Stephanie was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and dear friend, whose kindness and unwavering faith touched the lives of so many.

Stephanie found great joy and strength in her faith. She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in New Albany and previously a long-time parishioner of Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Louisville. She had built strong community with the Renew Group and her Bible Study Ladies prayer groups. She was always ready to offer a listening ear and prayer for those in need. She also shared her love of music as a piano teacher for many years and her family would get to hear some of her original songs, often without even knowing.

Above all, Stephanie’s family was her greatest treasure. She was the heart of her home, the keeper of traditions, and the reason behind every celebration. She was a devoted wife to her husband, Robert “Bob” Miller, and the most loving mother to her three daughters, Rachel Cowgill (Lyndsey), Bryn Bidwell (Aaron), and Madeline Harlan (Ben). Nothing made her happier than being “Mimi” to her four grandchildren, Naomi, Aiden, Emmett, and Alexandria.

She is also survived by her younger sisters, Diane Kissel (David) and Lauren Eckel (Erik), as well as her cherished nieces and nephews, Eric, Laura, Emily, Hannah, and Andrew. She was blessed with numerous friends who became family, each touched by her warmth, generosity, and ability to make every person feel truly seen and loved.

Stephanie never met a stranger. She had a rare gift for connection, always eager to hear someone’s story, ask meaningful questions, and find the common threads that tied her communities together. When asked how she was doing, she would often reply “fine”—but then, without fail, would go on to share updates about her loved ones.

Her love was shown through her constant acts of kindness, such as a hot breakfast for her kids before school every morning, a home cooked dinner at the end of every day for the family, and thoughtful touches that made every holiday and birthday feel magical. Her kitchen was a place of warmth, filled with the comforting scents of her famous mint "forget-me-not" meringues, biscuits and gravy, homemade cookies, and countless casseroles that nourished her family and friends.

Faithful, selfless, and endlessly devoted, Stephanie’s love was steadfast and her heart was generous. She made the world a better, kinder place simply by being in it.

A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church (415 E 8th St, New Albany, IN 47150) at 11 am on Saturday, February 8th, with a celebration of her life to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the University of Louisville School of Medicine (http://give.louisville.edu/gerd) in Stephanie’s memory, designated for GERD patient care, education, and research.

Though she is no longer physically here, the love she gave so freely will live on in the hearts of those who were blessed to know her.