Teresa Berniece "Terrie" Miller

Teresa was born on September 1, 1961 in Lincoln Nebraska to Mary and Donald Whiteford. She was the youngest of three girls. Her sisters Donna and Mary Beth. In 1965 the Whiteford family moved to California. Teresa began her education at Fern Drive Elementary in Fullerton, CA. The family moved to Buena Park, CA where she went to McComber Elementary. When she was a teenager the family moved to Norco, CA where she attended Norco High Shcool. In Norco she was able pursue her passion for the rodeo. She joined the Jr. rodeo which she always referred to as some of the greatest memories of her life.

On May 6, 1978, Teresa gave birth to her first son named James Michael Cool. In 1987, Teresa moved to Groton, Connecticut with her mother Mary and son James. The time spent out there was beautiful and peaceful. Teresa moved back to California in 1988 to Marry Timothy Edward Miller. On Septeber 1, 1989, Teresa gave birth to her second son on her birthday, Timothy Edward Miller II. The family then moved to Moreno Valley, CA. A year later on on September 8,1990, Teresa gave birth to her third son Aidan William Miller. Two years later on November 11,1992, Teresa gave birth to her fourth son John Aaron Miller. She was the proud mother of four wonderful boys. Teresa was a devoted mother, providing love and support to her four boys. She was very active in the boy's life from volunteering as team mom in little league baseball, soccer, and football. She worked as a Campus Aid at Butterfield Elementary in Moreno Valley CA. Where she was able to participate in her boys education and watch them grow and play. She was the proudest parent each time she got to watch each of her four sons successfully graduate High School. Teresa began working as a court appointed child visitation monitor in 2004. Teresa has always been protective of all children, not just her own. This type of work was very satisfying for her.

On February 1, 2013, Teresa and family suffered the tragic loss of the passing of her second son Timothy Edward Miller. Her heart was devastated and could truly never be mended. It was at this time Teresa's family pulled even closer and provided the support, strength, and will to continue with life.

On September 9, 2014 Teresa was admitted to the emergency room at Riverside Community Hospital. She had not been feeling well for quite some time.

She went in presenting with jaundice (a yellowish color of the skin and eyes). This is most commonly associated with liver failure. The doctors first thought gallstones were blocking the bile ducts of the gallbladder causing an infection of the liver, so the doctors tried to due an Endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatograph (ERCP) to to remove the gallbladder, but there was a blockage causing them to not be able to reach the gallbladder. They took a sample of this blockage during the ERCP and sent it to the labs. On September 14, they discovered this blockage was a tumor called a Klatskin's tumor. She was then transported to USC Medical Center where she was diagnosed with a type of cancer called Cholangiocarcinoma. The doctors at USC did a CT to get images of the tumor to determine if it was operable or inoperable. On September 24th, the surgeons determined that the tumor was inoperable due to the size of the tumor and the organs it was affecting. The tumor was putting pressure on the portal vein, which was putting stress on her liver causing liver failure. On September 26th, they performed a biopsy of the tumor. On October 1st, the Doctors determined that because the tumor was inoperable and by the liver failing it was also causing kidney failure. With this condition she was not a candidate for chemotherapy because her body would not be able to handle it. At this time the cancer was considered inoperable and untreatable. The Doctors asked the family to come in for a family meeting on Friday, October 3. On October 3rd, the results of the biopsy were available. The Internal Medicine Dr. said it was a high grade advanced form of an aggressive cancer. We were informed of the severity of her condition. She was with family all day and night and in the early morning of October 4th, 2014 at 2:30 am Teresa passed away in peace and pain free.

Teresa is survived by her sons James Cool, Aidan Miller, and John Miller.

We will forever love and miss you mom.

Rest in eternal peace.

Teresa Berniece Miller

09/01/61 - 10/04/14