Nadene Miller
(January 28, 1925 – February 25, 2018)
Nadene was married to Harold Hart Richardson, with whom she had two daughters: Cheryl Nadene Young and Diane Rochelle (Robert) Rebbec, both of Bloomington-Normal, Illinois. She later married Roger Clark Miller, with whom she had two sons: Shane Morgan (Vicki) Miller and Tynan Lynch Miller who live in Bloomington, Illinois. She has three grandchildren: Matthew Young and Amanda Rochelle (Zack) Bemis of Normal, and Kitti Morgan Victoria Miller of Norman, Oklahoma. Great grandsons are Austin Robert Bemis and Evan Eugene Bemis. Linda Lee (E. James) Strasma, her surviving sister, lives in Peoria, Illinois. Her many nieces and nephews were a big part of her earlier life and most of them called her “Aunt Nade” or “Aunt Nate”. Her children were blessed to have their mother with them for so long; she was grateful that all her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren lived nearby.
Preceding her in death: her parents and brothers Dewey Eugene (Evaun) Lynch and Winford “Bill” Haycraft (Norma) Lynch. Evaun passed away on March 1, only four days after Nadene. Norma, who Nadene was always very close to, survives.
From the time she learned to read, Nadene was an avid reader. After high school, she taught briefly in a one-room school; she later earned a Bachelor’s Degree in English and taught at high schools in Shelbyville, Herrick and Nokomis, all in Central Illinois. She later worked at Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois, from which she retired in 1990. She had a talent for quoting from nearly everything she read, from classic poetry to Mark Twain’s witticisms, something her children much appreciated. Several of her poems have been published and she wrote her memoir, A Haunt of Memories, at the age of 78. Everyone who knew her was very aware of her love of language. A visit with her nearly always included looking up a word in the dictionary, discussing its meaning and usage or laughing at its ridiculousness. On the morning of her death, Ty had brought her dictionary to the hospital for her.
Nadene had a life-long passion for gardening, which became a great joy to her in her retirement, and especially in the last part of her life. Early years saw her tending produce gardens and fruit trees, but later she focused on trees, bushes, flowers and hardscape. She read every gardening book she could and enjoyed reading the gardening blogs on her computer. Ty shared her love of gardening and ensured that she had a beautiful view when sitting at her bistro table and, during her last days, she loved to look out the window at her lovely garden.
Needlework was also a long-time enjoyment for Nadene: crocheting, embroidering, knitting, and especially quilting in her later years. All family members have a work of hers.
She enjoyed life and always had a few projects in progress, with many others being envisioned. She will be greatly missed by her children who shared her interests and humor throughout her life. Many extended family members and friends will remember her fondly.
During the last 10 or so years, Nadene studied religion and read daily from several informative and inspirational books. She joked that she was “cramming for her finals.” “After all,” she told her children “at the end all you have is your faith.”
A memorial graveside service was held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, June 8, 2018 with Brett Strasma officiating. Nadene’s mortal resting place is beside her parents in Glenwood Cemetery in Shelbyville, Illinois. Arrangements were by Howe and Yockey Funeral Homes, Ltd., Shelbyville, IL.