Sr. Mary Leona (Virginia Mary) Miller
June 23, 1920 - July 31, 2012
Obituary
Mary Leona Miller, SP
Sr. Mary Leona, SP (nee Virginia Miller), died on Tuesday, July 31, 2012 at 12:45 a.m. at St. Joseph Residence, Seattle, Washington at 92 years of age, having lived 70 years as a Sister of Providence. Vigil Service: Friday, August 3, 2012, 7:00 p.m. at St. Joseph Residence, 4800 37th Avenue SW, Seattle, WA. Funeral Mass: Saturday, August 4, 2012, 11:00 a.m., same location. Burial: Mother Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Vancouver, WA, Monday, August 20, 2012. Bonney-Watson Funeral Home, Seattle, Washington is in charge of the arrangements.
Sr. Mary Leona was born on June 23, 1920 to Leon H. Miller and Margaret (Slamnik) Miller, on June 23, 1920 in Glenwood, Minnesota. She was one of three children, all girls. When she was three years of age, the family moved to Longview, WA where she attended public schools.
Sr. Mary Leona entered the Sisters of Providence on May 18, 1942, made her first profession on July 19, 1943, and her final vows on July 19, 1946. Her sister, Ruth (name in religion, Sister Virginia), is also a Sister of Providence.
Her academic accomplishments include: B.A., College of Great Falls, Montana, 1956 and a Standard Elementary Teaching Certificate, granted in 1956.
Sr. Mary Leona was an extraordinary, much beloved primary teacher specializing in first grade. She taught in the following schools: Sacred Heart School, Tacoma, WA; Holy Rosary School, Moxee, WA; St. Joseph Grade School, Yakima, WA; St. Finbar School, Burbank, CA; St. Joseph Grade School, Yakima, WA; St. Joseph School, Vancouver, WA, first grade teacher and Assistant Principal; and Our Lady of Lourdes School, Vancouver, WA, first grade teacher and Vice Principal. It is notable that Sr. Mary Leona’s former students and their parents continued as life-long friends with whom she maintained contact through the years.
In 1990, Sr. Mary Leona retired from teaching. She was the last teaching sister in Vancouver, WA, but continued as a volunteer tutor in Catholic Schools in Vancouver, WA. She also visited the sick and needy and served as a parish minister.
In 1975, Sr. Mary Leona was honored as an Outstanding Elementary Teacher of America and, in 1990, she was one of ten educators to receive the Outstanding Teacher of Clark County award. In 1991, she was honored with the Woman of Achievement in Vancouver award.
Sr. Mary Leona is preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Genevieve. She is survived by her younger sister, Ruth (Sr. Virginia Miller, SP), a cousin, Jerry Duve, Yuma, AZ.
Memorial contributions may be made in her honor to the Sisters of Providence Retirement Fund, 1801 Lind Avenue SW, #9016, Renton, WA 98057-9016.
In 1953, I was one of the lucky first-graders to enter her classroom. I never forgot her.
When I was in 8th grade at St. Joseph School in Yakima, I had the wonderful after-school experience of helping Sister Mary Leona make her Reading charts for use in her first grade class. I later became a Reading Specialist and taught Reading for many years. She was an inspiration to me.
I also remember her lovely sister, Sister Virginia, who taught some of my brothers and sisters.
Sister was a very wonderful person both inside & out
Many good memories
Rest in Pease
Sister was a huge inspiration to our son Jim in the 1st grade at Lourdes in Vancouver. We will be forever grateful for her kindness and generosity.
Sister was one of the most amazing teachers I have ever had. She was my teacher 1n 1945 at Holy Rosary School in Moxee. She taught with compassion and kindness. You learned so much from this fabulous lady, She has always been one of the most memorable people to touch my life. . I admired her so much.
May Sr. Mary Leona rest in peace and pray for us. She was a very dear friend, I will miss her. Providence of God, I thank you for all,
Rest in peace, Sister. You were a good friend to all of us. God Bless, Jean
Sister Mary Leona was a very special friend as well as a great and compassionate Sister of Providence. She truly cared about each of her students. She was a model teacher and friend. Her ever lasting smile will be well remembered. She was one of a kind. I feel priviledged to have worked with her. And her loving caring sister was sooo good to her. She will be missed but not forgotten.
Sister Mary Leona was my daughter Alina’s first grade teacher at OLL.. She will be missed but she is forever in the hearts of all those she taught and their parents. One of daughters favorite ways to win an argument with me is to say “But Sister said!” works everytime! May there be lots and lots of chocolate and Kahlua in heaven just for you sister!
Sister always has had a special place in my heart and family. All 4 of our children were fortunate to have her as their 1st grade teacher . What better start could a child have. Sister will always be with us in some way.
Sister had the most incredible memory. She could tell you stories about you being in her class from 30+ years ago. She had a contagious laugh! I will always think of Sister and Smile.
I only taught with Sister one year at Our Lady of Lourdes, but we remained friends for years. She was a wonderful friend and so much fun to talk to.
My three children were fortunate enought to have Sister Mary Leona as their first grade teacher. Students of Sister’s were always noted for holding the doors open for everyone and, upon being given a request replying with an enthusiastic “I’d be very happy to!” Sister has left a mark of love on all of our hearts and will be remembered for the nurturing enviornment she created both in her classroom and community. God bless you, my darling friend.
I know that God’s blessings will be with you always, Sister. I have missed you so much, but I will never forget the fun times we had over the years. You taught four of my five children and they all adored you, as did I. I love you always. Patt
I have many wonderful memories of being in Sister Mary Leona’s class in first grade at St. Joseph’s, as do my many of my siblings.
Sister will be missed by all who were taught by her. She gave us a wonderful start.
By happenstance I became aware of this obituary. I had Sister Mary Leona as a first grader at St. Finbar School in Burbank, CA in 1952.
I was devastated when she moved to Yakima, WA and kept up a correspondence with her for several of my grade school years.
She was a stabilizing and positive influence on a young life with many problems at home. I am gratified that she touched so many other lives in the same way.
Sister Mary Leona was my 1st grade teacher in 1984 at Our Lady of Lourdes Vancouver, WA. I will never forget her sweet way with us kids. She had a closet full of Mother’s cookies and would give us one every day in class. Does anyone remember her giving out the cookies? She was and will always be an Inspiration to me.