Janice Eileen Millberg

Janice Eileen Murray Millberg was born February 10, 1927 to Aaron B. Murray and Delia Marie George Murray in Bluffton, OH. She was at rest May 20, 2016 in Altamonte Springs, FL. Jan was predeceased by her loving husband, Wm. B. Millberg M.D. Survived by children, Catharine Murray and her husband Bill Messamore of Knoxville, TN, Constance Marie Millberg of Apopka, FL, Cyndi Wright and her husband Ben Wright of Altamonte Springs, FL, Carole Windle and her husband Jim Windle of Cornelius, NC and Carl Murray Millberg and his wife Jasmin Danielle Millberg of Las Vegas, NV. Janice was MomMom to 10 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren: Corinne Martin and fiancé, Clint Goff (Peoria, IL); Aaron Martin and wife, Meredith Martin and sons, Cole and Cade (Charlotte, NC); John William Touchton (San Francisco, CA) and Timothy James Touchton (Apopka, FL); Brandi M. Griffith and husband, Christopher D. Griffith and daughters Laycee and Olivia (Las Vegas, NV); Will Wright (Orlando, FL); Kristen Hagan (Charlotte, NC) and Robbie Hagan (Charlotte, NC); Michael Drakos Millberg (Las Vegas, NV) and Jesse Aaron Millberg (Las Vegas, NV). Janice received her Bachelor of Music Degree in 1949 from The Ohio State University. She was the first Bachelor of Music Vocal Performance Major at Ohio State; the degree was created for her. During her time at Ohio State she was chosen for Queen's Court of the Ohio State Yearbook, Member of Alpha Chi Omega; Alpha Omicron chapter, sang in Symphonic Choir, University Chorus, Strollers Dramatic Society and Thespian Society. She won the General Electric Scholarship in Music as a senior and was a member of Delta Omicron Music Honorary. She was affiliated with the Chautauqua Opera Company at Chautauqua, NY for 3 summers. Janice won first place in the Young Artist's Group of the Ohio Federation of Music Clubs at Columbus, OH. She placed first in the Great Lakes competition at Indianapolis. On June 10, 1950 Janice was crowned Miss Greater Philadelphia. Taken from a newspaper article in her pageant scrapbook, "A mezzo-soprano, Miss Murray won the judges with her singing, 'Through the Years.' She came to Philadelphia to be near her fiancé, who is a first year medical student at Jefferson Medical College." She went on to become a Finalist in the 1950 Miss America Pageant where she sang 'Mon coeur s'ouvre à ta voix' from the opera Samson et Dalila as her talent. She was presented the key to the City of Philadelphia on behalf of Mayor Bernard Samuel in 1950. She had the privilege of returning to the 1951 Miss America Pageant as a featured soloist/singer and wore the gown 'blooming rose' designed especially for her and for that event. Janice and her husband, Bill, lived in Ashtabula, OH for decades where Bill set up his medical practice and Jan became involved in the community and First Presbyterian Church. They raised their family in the Walnut Blvd. home Bill's parents built overlooking Lake Erie. Their home was filled with laughter, music, people…lots of people, pets, wonderful food, great Manhattans and other libations, sometimes heated arguments, and beautiful floral arrangements…always beautiful floral arrangements wherever she lived. Jan and her family have retained many friendships from Ashtabula. Jan moved to Apopka, FL after the death of her husband to be closer to 2 of her daughters. For a time she lived in Las Vegas, NV with her son before moving back to Florida and settling in Altamonte Springs. Janice was a Charter Member of Foliage Garden Club of Apopka and held many offices including President. She won many awards including multiple First Place and Best of Show in Foliage Garden Club of Apopka. She was a member of National Guild of Flower Arrangers, Florida Federation of Garden Club Life Member, Apopka Women's Club where she held many offices including President and was the 1988 Apopka Women's Club Woman of the Year. She was active in Florida Federation of Garden Clubs and did extensive training with Floral Design Short Courses 1-9. She performed in musicals including Mother Superior-The Sound of Music, Golde-Fiddler on the Roof and Nettie Fowler-Carousel, oratorios including Contralto Soloist in The Messiah, and solo programs throughout Northeast Ohio and Pennsylvania. Her signature operatic arias were the arias from Samson et Dalila and Carmen. Her signature song for her radio show that she hosted in her late teens and early 20's was 'I'll Follow My Secret Heart.' She was actively involved in her church wherever she lived as soloist, choir member, and Sunday School teacher. Wekiva Presbyterian Church Longwood, FL was her church for the final nearly 20 years of her life. As she slowed down and was physically unable to sing or be quite as actively involved, she still attended worship services, Sunday School and was involved in her Women's Afternoon Church Circle. Jan traveled extensively throughout the United States including Alaska and Hawaii, and such places as Ecuador, Jamaica, Costa Rica, Belize, Norway, the Holy Land, Oberammergau, Italy, England, the Panama Canal, and Canada. She went on more Caribbean Cruises than her children can count. She loved to cook, read, watch movies from her vast collection of videos, do puzzles and to spend time with her family. She was a very selective eater (well, we called her picky): never tasted an apple or a banana (her father once offered her $1 to just put an apple in her mouth but she wouldn't do it.) Sugar on the other hand - that was a different matter. We all thank her for passing down the peanut butter fudge recipe from Papa. She had a wonderful sense of humor and a great love of chocolate. Her secret to her beautiful skin at age 89 was "chocolate…milk not dark." Jan would only eat full size candy bars because in her own words, "Life is too short for all those little wrappers!" Her greatest joy was her family. She will be deeply missed by all of them. A Celebration of her life will be held Saturday, June 18, 2016 1:00PM at Wekiva Presbyterian Church. 211 Wekiva Springs Ln., Longwood, FL. She will be interred in the Memorial Garden of Wekiva Presbyterian Church. Janice loved flowers however, if you choose to make a donation in lieu of flowers they may be made in her name to Wekiva Presbyterian Church, Longwood, FL; the Worship Arts Ministry of St. Stephen Lutheran Church, Longwood FL.; or the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.