Mrs. Helen Kathryn Miller
Editorial Department • Published 16 Feb 2012 13:00
The death took place (peacefully) of Helen Kathryn Miller, 14 Leenagrenagh, Enniskillen, in Tyrone County Hospital, Omagh, on Sunday, 22nd January, 2012, after battling with cancer for three and a half years.
Born in Bangor to Allan and Kathleen Beatty she became very much attached to that part of the world and although her work took her elsewhere Bangor was very much her home town.
The fact that her father, to whom she was much devoted, had a heart attack when she was only 13 must certainly have influenced her love for home in those early days.
Indeed, in later life she would have loved to become a missionary in India but she knew within herself that she could never leave her beloved home in Bangor for any great length of time.
Educated at Ballyholme Primary School and Bangor Girls Secondary School she entered the Nursing profession when only 17 to train as a nurse, and serving in that capacity in the Ards Hospital, Muckamore Abbey Special Care Hospital and Ulster Hospital (Dundonald).
It was during this time as a nurse and as a young girl in 1973, that she became a Christian, putting her trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as her Saviour.
It was this step of faith that influenced her whole life and indeed the lives of so many others as she lived her Christian life before them and witnessed to them.
Sometime prior to 1999 she met George Miller and the wedding took place in Hamilton Road Baptist Church, Bangor, on the 30th July, 1999, conducted by Pastor Freddie McClaughlin and Helen came to live in Enniskillen as George's devoted wife.
Because of Helen's caring nature and her interest in children she obtained a job as Classroom Assistant - Special Needs, in the Erne Integrated College, where she worked until she was diagnosed with cancer.
In this work Helen was devoted, she loved those children that were placed under her care and they loved her. However it was really in the latter years of her life and during those times of suffering that her loving and caring nature shone.
Despite her own illness and suffering she was so concerned for others and for their welfare. How are you keeping was the question she asked as you met her.
At the funeral service on Wednesday, 24th January, in Mullaghmeen Baptist Church, Pastor Robert Millar spoke of some of these qualities mentioned above but he emphasized the need of trust in Helen's Saviour - the Lord Jesus Christ as he preached on the words of Apostle Paul, "For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."
Helen will be sadly missed in the church and especially by the ladies. She was the devoted wife of George and the friend of all.
Helen will be sadly missed by all who knew her especially her husband George, brothers Tom and wife Jill; John; sisters Virginia, husband Mark; Ayn, husband Mark; mother-in-law Sadie, sisters-in-law Betty, husband George; Doris and husband Keith; all her nephews and nieces and the wider family circle.
Grateful thanks to Drs. Armstrong, Toal and Maguire, Medical Staff of Belfast City Hospital, Erne Hospital, Enniskillen; Macmillan Nurses Palliative Care Team and Rapid Response of Enniskillen and Tyrone County Hospitals; also to the members of the church and all who called at the home, attended the funeral and sent cards of sympathy.
The burial took place in the Cross Cemetery and the funeral arrangements were carried out by Austen Stinson of W. T. Morrison, Darling Street, Enniskillen.
This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 16 Feb 12
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