Torene Miller

Torene Jeanette “Beanie” Miller, age 82 years of Niles, Michigan; mother, grandmother, sister, singer, crafter, and reenactor died peacefully at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, July 5, 2024 with her family gathered around at her home, following an extended illness. Her family is grateful for the kind and compassionate care provided by the staff of Caring Circle Hospice.

She was born on July 29, 1941 in Niles to Kenneth L. and Audrey U. (VanDyke) Miller, and attended Niles Community Schools. She later earned her GED from Brandywine Community Schools, and continued her education at Lake Michigan College, working toward a degree in nursing. She was employed for many years at the former Niles plant of Simplicity Pattern Company, fulfilling orders for patterns to refill the drawers of Simplicity cabinets in department stores across the United States. She has lived in Niles all of her life.

Torene had been a member of the local chapter of Sweet Adelines International, the organization for women who enjoy singing together. She was an avid crafter, elaborately decorating glass storage jars, and creating home decorations for the holidays, gathering ideas and materials from area craft shows and the Goodwill store. For several years, she participated in reenactments of eras that included muzzleloading weapons.

She was sadly preceded in death less than a year ago by her daughter, Tamera D. Roberts on September 5, 2023. She was also preceded in death by her father, Ken Miller in 1981, and mother, Audrey “Fritz” Miller LaGue in 2009; and by her sister, Theresa Nash in 2007.

Surviving family includes her sons, Troy Roberts and Todd Holmes, both of Niles; grandchildren Thomas Fain, Tasha Fain, and Dane Holmes; great-grandchildren Cambria and Rylin; and Torene’s brother, Thomas (& Judy) Miller of Daytona Beach, Florida, and their son, Tim Miller, and his daughters, Raina and Rachel, and Raina’s children, Devon, Alyssa, Shyna, and Shaina; and Rachel’s children, Jonathen and Sierra. 

The family of Torene Miller will gather privately to honor her life and share memories. Arrangements were completed at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home, 615 East Main Street in Niles. Online condolences and memories may be left at:

www.halbritterwickens.com

Torene clearly enjoyed life, contributing to her community as a longtime faithful employee of Simplicity, striving toward a college degree to help others, and making life pleasant for other through her decoration efforts and music performances. But it was the “others” – the people in her life that she truly enjoyed, those with whom she sang, those who shared a passion for reenactment, and most importantly, her family.