Rose Anna Miller, 102, passed away gently and peacefully, in the
company of loving hands, on 9th August 2013 at Hillcrest Commons Nursing
Facility where she resided.
Born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts on December 3, 1910 she was the daughter of
Annie Guercio Garden and Thomas Garden (Giardina), both from Sicily. A life-
long resident of Pittsfield, she graduated from Pittsfield High School in 1928 and
Berkshire Business College in 1930. She was married in January of 1947 to
William Alexander Miller of Pittsfield and lived for 58 years in her home on Bay
State Road. She was predeceased by her brother Peter Garden and sister Josephine
Troy.
Rose Anna worked at General Electric as a private secretary from 1930 until 1947.
She was the only employed family member during the Great Depression.
Subsequently, she worked for many years in the record room at Pittsfield General
and S1. Luke's Hospitals and then for almost 20 years as Office Manager at the
Massachusetts State Department of Education from which she retired at the age of
75.
She was a member of the Rosary Altar Sodality at the former St. Teresa's Church
and an avid participant at the Women's Club, the Pittsfield Community Music
School, and the Berkshire Business and Professional Women's Group. Roseanna
endured many struggles in her lifetime, persevered and surmounted difficulties
with creativity and determination, thrift, optimism, and selfless generosity to
others. She was intelligent, loving, gracious, generous and kind to all who knew
her. The family would like to thank all those individuals who knew her and
compassionately supported her in the years when she required care, including her
doctors, nurses, and especially the CNAs at Unit 2 of Hillcrest Commons Nursing
Home.
She was a beloved wife, mother, and grandmother. Those who knew her and loved
her may honor her memory by living as she did, a life of honesty, empathy, charity
and simplicity; self-motivation, and devotion to family and education as the best
investments in life. She leaves a son Frederick (Steve) Miller and his wife,
Dorothyann of Dalton; her nephew Thomas Troy and his wife Linda of Cheshire;
her niece Nancy Garden and her partner Sandy Scott of Carlisle MA; and her
granddaughter Josie Miller Macchi and husband Matthew of Pittsfield. There are
several other nieces and nephews both in the Berkshires and out of state.

FUNERAL NOTICE: Funeral services for Rose Anna Miller, 102, of Pittsfield who died August 9, 2013 will be held Thursday at 9:30 AM from the DERY FUNERAL HOME in Pittsfield followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10:00 AM at St. Joseph Church celebrated by the Rev. Monsignor Michael Shershanovich, pastor. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery. Calling hours will be held Thursday from 8:30 AM to 9:30 AM at the funeral home prior to the service. To sign the guest book or to send condolences, please visit www.berkshireeagle.com. or deryfuneralhome.com

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