Dolores Rose Miller
Born March 25, 1932 in Brooklyn, MarylandDeparted July 11, 2024 in Melbourne, Florida
Dolores Rose Miller passed away under the care of St. Francis Hospice on July 11, 2024, in Melbourne, Florida after a protracted illness. Dolores was born in Brooklyn, Maryland in 1932 to her parents Mary Sporka Lukes and Joseph Lukes, both Czech immigrants. She was raised in a rural home south of Baltimore on Virginia Avenue and attended Southern High School in the city. “Dee” and her extended family thrived in an energetic community comprised of Central European immigrants finding their way in America. Dolores was the youngest of four children, including Viola Lukes McMahon, James Lukes, and Joseph Lukes. Both of her brothers fought overseas while her sister served the nation as a ship welder during WWII.
After graduation in 1950, Dee accepted employment as a clerk in the boat shop at the United States Coast Guard Yard in Curtis Bay, Maryland where she worked from 1951-1961. On October 6, 1956, Dolores married the love of her life, William H. Miller, a Korean War Veteran, also from Brooklyn. Bill and Dee were blessed with a happy 67-year marriage resulting in two sons, William Jr. and Richard Paul. Bill and Dee moved to Glen Burnie, Maryland in February 1960 and lived there until 2004 when they moved to Melbourne, Florida just in time to be welcomed by both their sons’ families and two major hurricanes.
Dolores generously volunteered her time in the Anne Arundel County, Maryland, school system from 1970 to 1984, and loved working with teachers and children in a wide range of capacities. From 1984 until 1995 Dolores served as church secretary and Parrish House coordinator for the Reverend Louis H. Pabst at the Church of the Crucifixion Catholic Church in Marley, Maryland. Dee took great pleasure in working for those in need in the community, and assisting the church in everything from mass preparations, to church bulletin readiness, charitable giving campaigns, and even meal planning for the very busy pastor.
As a young girl Dolores loved the outdoors, climbing trees on their property in carefree style and picking fresh vegetables from the family victory garden. As the youngest child, Dee was fully committed to assisting her aging mother. Many of us fondly recall Dolores and her mom speaking Bohemian in animated fashion around the family home in Brooklyn. In her spare time as an adult, Dee was a voracious reader, tended to her potted plants, loved doting on her cats, and enjoyed watching golf tournaments. Dolores also loved serving food, helping others, and making people feel welcomed. Dee was an early adopter of the personal computer and learned to build spreadsheets before spreadsheets were cool. Above all else, Dee enjoyed visiting with, and spoiling, her two grandchildren.
Dolores is survived by her devoted husband William H. Miller; two sons, William H. Miller, Jr., Richard P. Miller; two grandchildren, Andrew W. Miller, Danielle M. Miller; and one great grandchild, Olivia Miller. We will miss Dolores dearly as she lived her convictions daily and exemplified the meaning of “family always comes first”.
No dates for a service are being announced at this time. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to:
St. Francis Reflections Life Stage Care