Dominican Sister of Peace Rose Miller, OP, (Sister Rosaire), 91, died on June 11 at the Regina Health Center, Richfield, OH. She was born in 1925 in Akron, OH, the youngest daughter of Fred and Margaret (Lang) Miller.
She entered the Sisters of St. Dominic of Akron, Ohio, now Dominican Sisters of Peace, in 1945, and made her first profession in 1947. Her classmates at the Sisters of St. Dominic referred to her as “Mother” because she worked for two years before entering the order – a rarity in those days.
Sr. Rose earned her Bachelors of Science in Education from Saint John College in Cleveland, OH. She served as both a teacher and a principal in the Cleveland and Youngtown diocesan schools, working with young people from pre-school to college in her 25 years of teaching. She was also involved with a summer camp for children with special needs in the area.
In 1972, Sr. Rose began a new ministry at Saint Thomas Hospital, serving as a receptionist and clerk. Her gentle manner helped put patients and visitors at ease in the sometimes stressful hospital environment. She also served as the secretary at St. Vincent Elementary School, Our Lady of the Elms Preschool and Special Education School. She was a well-known bargain hunter when she served as portress and shopper for the Infirmary at the Elms.
In her memorial, Sister Diana Culbertson joked that Sr. Rose moved so often that she probably never had to unpack. But, she noted, “She was moved so often – not because she couldn’t get along with others, but because she got along with everybody.”
When seeking permission to renew her vows, Sr. Rose wrote: “It is my firm intention to give the rest of my life to the service of God in our community.” That is exactly what she did, as she served her Community through presence and prayer until the end of her life.
Sr. Rose was preceded in death by her parents and her brothers, John, Joseph and Paul; and sisters, Sister Agatha, Elizabeth Vorhies, Catherine Wahl and Anna Sorg. She is survived by several nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
A Vigil of Remembrance and the Mass of Christian Burial were held on June 15 at the Dominican Sisters of Peace Motherhouse in Akron, OH. She was buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Akron.
Memorial gifts in Sr. Rose’s memory may be submitted securely online or sent to:
The Dominican Sisters of Peace
Office of Mission Advancement
2320 Airport Drive
Columbus, OH 43219.