Martha Miller, 81, of Racine, Wis., Chicago and lately of Hinsdale died peacefully Dec. 26, 2024 at her senior residence home.
Martha was born in Wisconsin to Richard and Jean Miller, the youngest of their three children. The family home in Racine was at the shore of Lake Michigan, and the lake was an important constant for Martha.
After graduating high school in Wellesley, Mass., Martha attended Lawrence University in Appleton, Wis., graduating with a bachelor's in English literature and in European intellectual history. Her first career position was with Leo Burnett Advertising. She worked subsequently for other marketing agencies before joining Demy and Associates as a speech writer and marketing consultant to Fortune 500 companies. She became vice president and continued to advise and write copy for their clients until the closure of that business. Martha then became a freelance ghost writer, newspaper columnist, editor of several PhD theses and author of several books, many speeches and technical presentations. She was able to grasp fundamental issues in multiple fields - law, medicine, marketing, nursing and religion - and write cogently about them in the style of her client.
Martha was passionate in her involvement with family, friends and the counseling of persons in recovery. She was direct and insightful, helping individuals to reach clarity and purpose in their daily lives. She loved children and related easily and comfortably to them, with mutual respect, fun and engaging activities. She deeply loved her nephews and nieces who were always delighted to be with her. Her imaginative sense of fun and her creativity infused those around her with delight. She loved horses all her life, especially her own Willie (Sweet William), continuing teaching horsemanship and riding after she herself no longer rode.
Martha is survived by her sister, Linda (Michael) Warren; her nephew, Joseph (Michelle) Warren; her nieces, Deborah YouMee (Jesse) Collins, Susan (Ake) Pettersson-Miller and Ellie (Will) Boeseweter; her sister-in-law, Janet Miller; and her "sister-by-choice," Christine Massie.
She was preceded in death by her brother, Greg Miller; and her nephew, Jonathan Warren.
A funeral and memorial service will be held at 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25, at The Church of the Holy Nativity, 275 S. Richmond Ave., Clarendon Hills.
A reception will follow at the Parish Hall.
Memorials may be made to Church of the Holy Nativity, 275 S. Richmond Ave., Clarendon Hills, IL 60514; Grateful House, 412 Wesley Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302; or a charity of choice.
The Cremation Society of Illinois handled the arrangements.
