Sr. Virginia Miller
(Name in Religion: Sr. Virginia)
Sr. Virginia Miller died on May 15, 2026 at 3:49 p.m. at Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, WA, at 98 years of age, after 77 years as a Sister of Providence. Vigil Service: Monday, June 29, 2026, 3:30 p.m., St. Joseph Residence, Chapel, 4800 37th Avenue SW, Seattle, WA. Funeral Mass: Tuesday, June 30, 2026, 11:00 a.m. St. Joseph Residence, Chapel. Burial: Tuesday, June 30, 2026, Calvary Cemetery, Seattle WA, at 1:45 p.m. Bonney-Watson Funeral Home, Seattle, WA, is in charge of the arrangements.
Sr. Virginia was born in Longview, WA, on March 30, 1928 to Leon and Margaret (Slamnik) Miller. She was baptized Ruth Hyacinth and joined her two older sisters, Virginia (who would become Sr. Mary Leona) and Genevieve. The sisters were raised in a secure, strongly Catholic home, nurtured and encouraged by their parents. Sr. Virginia was an active child, playing outdoors in all weather, fishing and taking frequent walks around a nearby lake. In high school she played all kinds of sports, basketball, baseball, hockey, speedball and volleyball.
The idea of becoming a Sister began for Sr. Virginia when her and her sisters met the Sisters of Providence at a young age when the Sisters from Vancouver, WA stayed at their home while teaching CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) classes. Her oldest sister, Sr. Mary Leona, who was a Sister of Providence, also influenced Sr. Virginia to answer the call to religious life. While often visiting her sister, Sr. Virginia was impressed with the Sisters with whom she lived. Their joy and enthusiasm had a great impact on her decision to live this kind of life. Sr. Virgina followed her heart and had no doubts. She entered the Sisters of Providence community in 1948, became a Novice in 1949, professed First Vows in 1950 (receiving the name “Virginia” as her religious name) and Final Vows in 1953.
In 1946, Sr. Virginia graduated high school at Robert A. Long High School, Longview. In 1952, she received a BA degree in Education at the College of Great Falls (now University of Providence), Great Falls, MT. She completed a master certification program in religious education, Mt. Mercy College, Cedar Rapids, IA in 1967. She received a MRE (master’s in religious education) degree, University of St. Thomas, Houston, TX in 1975.
Sr. Virginia lived a full life caring for others. Her ministries initially focused on teaching, including: St. Patrick’s School, Walla Walla, WA (1950-51); St. Joseph Academy, Yakima, WA (1951-53, 1960-63); Holy Rosary School, Moxee, WA (1954-59); St. Joseph Grade School, Yakima, WA (1959-60); St. Michael School, Olympia, WA (1960); Providence Academy, Vancouver, WA (1963-65). In 1967, as the Church was going through many changes, Sr. Virginia and another Sister of Providence, Sr. Elizabeth Joyce inaugurated Vancouver Apostolate, an outreach program to train volunteers from five rural parishes in rural ministry. In 1978, the two Sisters became the first rural ministry team in the Archdiocese of Seattle. For eight years they served in 12 parishes and 10 mission churches. To serve in many areas, the Sisters lived in a 23-foot trailer for three years. This ministry was Sr. Virginia’s true passion. In 1995, she became a pastoral life director, spending the next eleven years serving the people of the parishes in Washington. Following parish ministry, Sr. Virginia became director of Upper Room ministry in Centralia, WA, which provided spiritual support to women and married couples. Sr. Virginia served on many religious community committees and was a dedicated volunteer in the Providence Archives and in the religious community.
Sr. Virginia was blessed with an amazing, beautiful life and will be remembered for her deep compassion for others. Her life sentiment was, “Love one another. We’re all in this together and support will be very important.” Every day she lived her life with this sentiment in her heart. Sr. Virginia was an avid Seattle sports fan, especially the Mariners and the Seahawks. She was a beautiful example to all of us on how to live your life with gratitude and love. She will be immensely missed.
Her parents, Leon and Margaret, and her sisters Sr. Mary Leona Miller and Genevieve (Miller) Duve preceded her in death. She is survived by her nephew, Jerry (Linda) Duve, her niece, Helen Selisker, many cousins, and her religious community.
Memorial contributions may be made in her honor to the Sisters of Providence Retirement Fund, 1801 Lind Avenue SW, M1-C, Renton, WA 98057-9016. To view Sr. Virgina’s obituary and picture, and to sign her memory book, please visit the website for Bonney-Watson Funeral Home at www.bonneywatson.com.
We met Sister Virginia back in 1977 at Saint Olaf’s parish in Poulsbo Washington. We worked with the youth in the parish and worked closely with Sister Virginia during this process. Sister Virginia was always very warm and caring. Never critical. She had a passion for Canadian bacon and pineapple pizza in addition to being the biggest Mariners and Seahawks sports fan, we ever knew. We were fortunate enough to be able to keep in touch with her over the years and got to see her the day before her last birthday. She still had that cute little impish smile. We truly loved her and she will be truly missed. She may be gone, but she will always be part of our lives.
I will always have found memories of Sister Virginia as my first grade teacher at Holy Rosary in Moxee.
Sr. Dolores Shortal
A beautiful soul who lived as Christ instructed and touched so many lives. I was honored to know her for many years and I will miss her correspondence.
I met Sister Virginia in 1964 when I started my Freshman year at Providence Academy in Vancouver, Washington
She was so warm and received my classmates and myself eagerly and was so positive
about our first year in high school. I remained in touch with her over the years and visited with her at St. Joseph”s Residence yearly.
She will be missed by all but is smiling down upon all of us.