Joan Karen (Vassallo) Miller
Born In: Montréal, Quebec, Canada
Born: January 29th, 1948
Passed in: Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
Passed on: October 14th, 2011
Joan Karen Miller (nee Vassallo), 63, of Oshawa, Ont., originally from Portage, N.S., passed away suddenly Friday, Oct. 14, 2011, at home.
Born Jan. 29, 1948, in Montreal, Que., Karen was the daughter of Anne Vassallo (nee MacDonald) and the late George Vassallo of Portage.
She was a faithful member of Our Lady of Fatima Church in Sydney River until 2007 when she and her husband Dennis relocated to Ontario to be closer to their children and their families. Karen worked for 15 years at the Sydney River Superstore until her retirement in 2007. She was a passionate, inspirational person who cherished her family and friends above all else.
Karen is survived by her loving and faithful husband of 42 years, Dennis Miller; her three adoring sons, Derek (Christine Wong) Miller, Toronto, Ont., Dale Miller, Toronto, Ont., Brent (Karen) Miller, Hinton, Alta.; her beautiful daughter, Joanne (Kyle) MacDonald, Fredericton, N.B. She is also survived by her mother, Anne Vassallo, Portage; her four sisters, Georgina (Leo) Murphy, London, Ont., Anita (Mike) Pierrynowski, Sydney, N.S., Sharon Vassallo, Portage, and Irene (Ken) Ball, Sydney, N.S.; her five brothers, Joseph (Theresa) Vassallo, Sydney, N.S., Raymond (Robin) Vassallo, Fort Erie, Ont., Lloyd (Denyse) Vassallo, Windsor, N.S., Gary (Arlene) Vassallo, Portage, and Paul (Wanda MacKinnon) Vassallo, Sydney Forks, N.S.
She was also the most amazing and loving “nana” to her three precious grandchildren, Jordan, Ben and Paige. They brought her and Dennis more joy than she could have ever imagined possible.
Karen was predeceased by her father, George Vassallo of Portage.
There will be no visitation. Funeral services will be held at Our Lady of Fatima Church, Sydney River, N.S., on Saturday, Oct. 22, 2011, at 11 a.m. A reception and celebration of Karen’s life will follow in the church hall.
At the request of the family, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Karen’s name to the Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.sydneymemorialchapel.ca or email sydneymemorialchapel@ns.sympatico.ca.
