Saundra J. (Whitlock) Miller

Saundra J. (Whitlock) Miller died peacefully in her Marengo, Indiana, home surrounded by her husband and four daughters on the afternoon of August 21, 2022. Sandy was predeceased by her parents, Melvin and Margaret Whitlock. She is survived by her husband of 56 years, Roy Miller; her daughters, Dawn (Greg) Snyder, Shannon (Eric) Oakley, Jennifer (Scot) Hawthorne, and Victoria (John) Bennett; and the loves of her life, her 9 grandchildren, Sara and Joe Gryboski, Elsa, Ethan, and Faith Oakley, Cameron and Samuel Hawthorne, and Jacob and Brooke Bennett; 2 brothers; and 5 sisters.

Sandy graduated from Holy Rosary Academy in 1965. She met Roy in 1964 at a Butler High School sock hop. Roy says he had a stroke of luck because Sandy had not worn her glasses to the dance. Without her glasses, Sandy asked Roy to dance. He offered her a ride home, but before she would accept, she insisted on stopping by the bowling alley so her parents could give permission. Their love story began that day.

Sandy and Roy moved their four daughters to Indiana in 1976. Together, they built their dream of a home in the country. They raised four daughters who learned families eat dinner together and the value and reward of hard work. While they did not farm to support the family, over the years they raised chickens, cows, and pigs. They learned and taught their girls how to garden, chop wood, and put up hay. Sandy and Roy created an idyllic childhood for their daughters. They played in fields of daffodils, stomped through creeks, created mudslides, and walked about a mile, uphill both ways, to the bus stop to attend Paoli Community Schools.

Education was important to her. Sandy and Roy made education a goal, often spoken aloud around the dinner table. They achieved this goal when all four daughters graduated from college, with two later adding master's degrees and Victoria earning a doctorate. Of their nine grandchildren, three have graduated college (with one now pursuing a master's), five are currently working on bachelors', and one is a junior in high school.

After retiring from Paoli, Inc., Sandy enjoyed golf, traveling with friends, and watching her grandchildren in their activities. She loved cooking for her family. Her daughters, sons-in-law, and grandchildren cherish her recipes. Roy loves time with the family because he says this is the only time Sandy would feed him. Her recipes were from the heart, passed down from other generations, and not necessarily written down. She enjoyed flowers, especially those that attracted hummingbirds. She loved watching them fly and dart around the feeders she lovingly filled for them.

Sandy and Roy's marriage was an example to their daughters and grandchildren. Their life was not perfect. There were obstacles and challenges along the way. There were also great joys. They faced both together and were a formidable force. They loved and cared for each other. Whatever they did, they did together with humor and an endless supply of love for each other and the family they built together.

Sandy taught her daughters to love fiercely, creating four mothers who are strong, independent, smart women because she believed in them. She taught them about the power of knowing you can take care of yourself and to never give up. Sandy's faith permeated who she was and how she lived. She believed God never gives more than one could handle and adversity makes you stronger. She died the way she lived; on her own terms, calling all the shots, and with strength and grace.

Visitation will be on Thursday, August 25, from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Newcomer Cremations, Funerals & Receptions (3309 Ballard Lane, New Albany). Her funeral mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Friday at St. Mary of the Knobs Catholic Church (5719 St. Mary's Road, Floyds Knobs) with burial to follow in the church cemetery.

To honor Sandy's legacy, the family requests contributions be made to the Brown Cancer Center Foundation (529 S. Jackson Street, Louisville, KY 40202) or to Hosparus – the Community Hospice of Southern Indiana (502 Hausfeldt Lane, New Albany, IN 47150).

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