Edythe Miller

Edythe "Gitchie" Miller, age 93, died peacefully at her home on March 24th after struggling with dementia for several years. Edythe was born in Brooklyn in 1926, a first generation American, and lived with her parents, Samuel and Rose (Diamond) Koffler, who were East European immigrants, and her beloved older sister Claire. She met Milton Miller while a guest at the Loch Sheldrake hotel in the Catskills when she was 15. Milton was a waiter and slipped carrying a tray of red borsht, and Gitchie laughed as the red borsht went down the back of another guest’s fancy dress – having bonded over a sense of humor, they married in 1948 and enjoyed 29 loving, happy years together before Milton died in 1977.

Edythe is survived by her daughter Peggy (Abbe) and her step-grandchildren Jenny (Ethan), Alex, and Rachel; her son Rick (Ellen) and her grandchildren Josh and Tracy (Mike); her niece Nancy (Ted) and their children Nick (Renee) and granddaughter Astrid; her niece Lizzie (Cliff) and their daughters Lucy and Zoe (Teddy); her nieces and nephew Andrea, Monique and Jimmy; her best friend Brandy and Brandy’s son Raymond (Cynthia) and granddaughter Juliana; her sister-in-law Goldie, her nieces Francine and Audrey (Brian) and nephew Louis; her sister-in-law Fay and her nieces Randi (Daniel) and Rhonda (George); and her beloved cat, Puppy.

Edythe got the nickname "Gitchie" as a child from her cousin Sol, who thought of her when he read the poem Hiawatha by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow ("On the shores of Gitchie Gumee....”). A graduate of Tilden High School (1944) and Brooklyn College (1948), she was an award-winning NYC elementary school teacher for more than 35 years at PS 165 in Brooklyn and PS 133 in Queens.

Gitchie was full of life, with a great sense of humor and a big heart. She loved music. She befriended everyone she met, from the Verizon telephone repairman to her manicurist. She was the best friend anyone could have - generous, loving, supportive, funny, classy and always stylish. Gitchie’s life was filled with laughter, love, and selfless giving to others. She will be well remembered, and deeply missed, by many.

Edythe “Gitchie” Miller, passed away on Sunday, March 24, 2019 in North Woodmere, New York at the age of 93. The family has asked that, in lieu of flowers or baskets, please make a donation to Make-A-Wish®, her favorite charity.

Arrangements under direction of Boulevard-Riverside Chapels

A service will be held at 11:00AM on Sunday, March 31, 2019 with interment to follow at Mount Golda Cemetery in Huntington Station, New York

If you have any questions or need assistance, please feel free to call the chapel at 516-295-3100

If your interested in Shiva information please contact the funeral home directly.