Arlene Joyce Miller

Arlene Joyce (Guerard) Miller passed away peacefully with strength, grace, and dignity, with family by her side. Arlene was born and raised in Port Arthur, Ontario like her father Maurice Alphonse Isaac Guerard. Her mother Mary Eva Elizabeth “Mickey” (Kidd) Guerard was born and raised in Fort William, Ontario. Arlene took pride in her deep Canadian French, Finnish, Irish, Scottish, and Swedish roots.

Always active, Arlene studied dance and voice from the age of three, and enjoyed time with her older brother Jim at the Canadian Northern Hotel owned by their Finnish great-grandparents the Erikkilas, and outdoors where they swam, fished, hiked and picnicked. Arlene loved reading, Guiding, fashion shows, cheerleading, candy striping, dances, and parades, and cats and dogs. She attended Pine Street School, Port Arthur Collegiate, and King’s Business College. At seventeen, Arlene met the love of her life, George Bernard Miller who was nineteen, and they married in Port Arthur on May 12th, 1956. George graduated from Queen's as a Mechanical Engineer in 1958, and he and Arlene had their children in Dorval, Quebec (Andrew and Lisa), Vancouver (Doug), and Fort William (Rob), moving again to Dorval before settling in North Vancouver in 1977.

Arlene worked in administration in banks, at Thunder Bay’s Confederation College, and for over twenty years at North Vancouver's Capilano College beginning in 1978. She made friends in close-knit neighbourhoods, played Bridge, and volunteered in clubs such as Beta Sigma Phi which crowned Arlene Vancouver’s 1964 “Queen of Hearts” out of over 500 hopefuls. Arlene and George gave their children a joyful childhood and a passion for Science, Math, and the Arts. They embraced being grandparents and great-grandparents. Arlene’s family came first but her second greatest love was for dogs. In 1969 she began raising and “showing” Lhasa Apsos to international recognition under the Kennel name “Desiderata.” Arlene recently relocated to Courtenay, B.C. to be near her daughter and family.

Predeceased by her husband George Miller (2019); eldest son, Professor Andrew Miller (2009); brother Jim Guerard; brother-in-law Jack Cop, preemie great-grandson Wallace Miller Macdonald-Heath (April 2021) and extended family members.

Arlene is lovingly remembered by her daughter Lisa Grant (Don); son Doug Miller (Helen); son Rob Miller (Fiona); Andrew’s widow Kate Orland-Bere; grandchildren Katy (Jordan) Macdonald-Heath, Gillian (Danny), Jon, Charlotte (Quentin), and Mary Grant; Alanna (Maël), Sean Miller and Viggo Batabyal-Miller; Jay Stanbury (Amy), Maddi and Spenser Miller; great-grandchildren Valerie and Gus Macdonald-Heath; sisters-in-law Bernie Malo (Joe), Marilyn Juvonen (Kal), and Barbara Cop and brother-in-law Lawrence Miller (Pat); and extended family and many long-time friends.

Despite the pain of Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer and a late June 17th diagnosis, Arlene remained smiling, sharp and witty to the last, comforted by four generations of family and with messages from many people. Arlene leaves a legacy of strength, brilliance and passion and will be remembered as always beautiful, inside and out.

Celebrations of Arlene’s life are being planned. Thank you to the wonderful Doctor Crystal Bostrom, and to all involved in Arlene’s care during her short time at Vancouver Island Hospital.

In lieu of flowers, we welcome donations to the B.C. Cancer Society.