Obituary of Mari-claire Miller

Mari-claire Miller (nee Looges), a longtime Madison resident, passed away peacefully on Monday, January 28, 2019 with her loving family at her side. She was 75.

Mari-claire was born in East Orange on August 13, 1943 to the late Edwin J. and Claire Looges. She was raised in Bloomfield and was a graduate of Bloomfield High School, prior to attending college. Mari-claire and her loving husband of 52 years, Peter J. Miller, lived in Bloomfield shortly, prior to settling in Madison with their young family 50 years ago.

Mari-claire had a long career as an administrator with Channel Home Centers in Madison and Rickel in Somerville, prior to retiring. She was a very active member of the Ogden Memorial Presbyterian Church of Chatham and a proud church elder.

She was a woman of tremendous faith in God and worked selflessly at performing good deeds that would benefit and bring comfort to others less fortunate. Mari-claire worked tirelessly knitting, sewing and creating items such as hats for premature babies & cancer patients. She put her entire heart into crafting afghans and blankets for the homeless and battered women’s shelters. Mari-claire enjoyed spending time and creating such items with her many dear friends at the Madison Senior Center Knitting Group. They supported many local organizations, such as Bridges, by creating and donating their items.

Mari-claire cherished all the time she spent with her grandchildren. She loved them dearly and enjoyed watching them at sporting events, and the many family vacations and outings they took. She loved the many cruises she took with her husband and the many summer family trips to the Jersey shore. Gardening was a favorite of Mari-claire’s and she was an avid admirer of historical lighthouses.

Mari-claire leaves behind a legacy of love and giving that will live on both directly in those that knew and loved her and indirectly by those whose lives were made a little better and warmer by her creations.

Mari-claire is survived by her beloved husband, Peter J. Miller of Madison; her two sons, Kevin P. Miller and Diane Heilman of Piscataway & Gregory J. Miller and his wife, Kristin of Colonia; her daughter, Michelle C. Miller and her husband, Jeremy Friedman of Piscataway; two brothers, David Looges and his wife, Virginia & Peter J. Looges and his wife, Sue; two cherished grandsons, Logan G. Miller & Christopher W. Miller; several nieces & nephews; and many dear friends from church and the Madison Senior’s Center.

A funeral service led by Pastor Kathi Heath will be held at 11:00AM on Friday, February 1, 2019 at the Ogden Memorial Presbyterian Church, 286 Main St, Chatham. Entombment will follow at Restland Memorial Park, East Hanover. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend a visitation to celebrate Mari-claire’s life on Thursday from 2-4PM & 7-9PM at the Madison Memorial Home, 159 Main Street, Madison.

In lieu of flowers, charitable contributions may be made in Mari-claire’s memory to the Ogden Memorial Presbyterian Church, 286 Main St, Chatham 07928 or the Madison Volunteer Ambulance Corps, 29 Prospect St, Madison, NJ 07940.

For further information or online condolences, please visit www.madisonmemorialhome.com