Rose L. Miltier

Rose Lindo Miltier, 81, of Kailua, passed away at her home in Kailua on Saturday, March 24, 2012. She was born in Papaaloa, Hawaii and was a retired Pediatric Nurse.

She is survived by her husband of 40 years, James D. Miltier; sons, Patrick (Denise) Lindo, Lee Miltier; daughters, Diane Kintz (James), Laureen Bowles, Lisa (Kalani) Jan; 10 Grandchildren, 1 Great-granddaughter and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to St. Francis High School or St. Francis Hospice.

Rose Miltier lived a life that was full of great sorrow and pain, but also great love and joy.

Rose Thelma was born to Joseph and Margaret DeRego on March 14, 1931 in Papa’aloa, Hawaii. She grew up on a sugar cane plantation, one of six children. She always told her own children about her precarious walk to school along the cliffs above Laupahoehoe; cane trucks rattling by. She attended St. Joseph School in Hilo, then moved to Oahu to join her older siblings and attended and graduated from St. Francis Convent High School.

In 1953 she received her diploma from St. Francis School of Nursing.

In September of that same year she married Jesse Lindo, a pilot in the United States Air Force whom she met thru her brother Lawrence. During their marriage, 5 children were born--Patrick, Diane, Laureen, Donna and Lisa. As a military family, they traveled to Alaska, were stationed at Hickam for while, and then were stationed in Dover, Delaware. While living on the East Coast, they shared with their children the sights of New York and the history of the country including trips to Boston and Washington D.C. Jesse died when the plane he was flying in crashed in Greece in January of 1965, and Rose returned with her children to Hawaii. In July of that same year, Donna died in a car accident at the age of 5.

Rose’s ability to move forward with her life and care for her children was a tribute to her grace, strength and faith. The family ultimately expanded with the addition of youngest son Lee and husband Jim Miltier, a senior chief radioman stationed in Hawaii with the Coast Guard. Jim demonstrated, among other admirable qualities, bravery in taking on five children along with Rose.

Roses’ lifelong love of music was known to all. She played ukulele, organ and piano growing up. Many here remember her playing at St. Anthony’s of Padua in Kailua with choirs starting in the 1950’s. She also played the organ for many weddings. Rose played for St. Anthony’s school choir when Hedwig Trapp of the famous Von Trapp family singers was the choir leader. In the mid 60’s, Rose sang in the Honolulu Symphony Choir performance of Tosca. She was happy to have a ride to rehearsal and performances with Dr. Winifred and Pat Chang who were also in the chorus. Singing in the Mikado in Kailua with the local community theater was another musical highlight. Most recently, Rose enjoyed working with Olga Gilliland and the St. Anthony’s children choir.

Rose’s home at 185 Makua St. was another constant in her life and that of her family and numerous friends and visitors. She hosted exchange students and travelers from all over the world, including Japan, Brazil, France, Germany and Switzerland. She loved setting a beautiful table complete with linens and china for Thanksgiving and Easter, or more casually for New Year‘s day or St. Patrick‘s Day gatherings. Her children and grandchildren could always drop by or enjoy visiting in the home and lovely yard she created and cared for. So many of us recall her smiling face greeting us from her kitchen window.

Rose worked as a nurse for most of her adult life, primarily in the field of pediatrics. While stationed at Dover AFB, Delaware, she volunteered in the health room of Holy Cross School where her children attended. Back in Hawaii she worked in the offices of Dr. Busse and Dr. Rose, but most of her nursing career was spent working in the office of Dr. Robert Dimler, a pediatrician whom she admired and respected. She came to know many of the children and families of Kailua during that time and retired from active nursing in the mid 80’s. She continued to care for others by volunteering with hospice and taking communion to the hospital bound.

Rose cared strongly about injustice and the environment and worked alongside her dear friend Ursula Rutherford in addressing some of these issues. She contributed to the successful Save Sandy Beach campaign, the Camp Kailua issue, among others.

Rose enjoyed many friends and family; her calendar had entries almost daily. She and Jim had to go on “vacation” to get a rest from the social scene. She kept a busy schedule right up to her last days. This was illustrated by the fact that in mid-February she, Jim and son Lee flew to Hawaii Island to visit beloved cousins and friends in her Hamakua birthplace. She summoned the strength to do this despite her cruel affliction.

Even as her life drew to a close, the incredible person she was continued to shine. When one family member came to visit, she organized the rest of us to sit in a semicircle so she could see her yard and all of us. When she was moved to a hospital bed in the family room, she told her daughter “My bed is better”. At another time, she told Denise, her daughter-in-law that she could feel all the prayers“. So to all who helped us wrap our wife and mother in prayer and love, we her family thank-you as of course she would have us do. Good-bye Rose Thelma and thank-you for your incredible life.