Memorial service Monday for Batavia alderman
Facing a life-threatening illness, Batavia Alderman Linnea Miller did what many do with their remaining time: She did the things she loved.
That meant poring over city documents and attending council and committee meetings, right up until the end, trying to make Batavia a better place. That included a city council meeting Jan. 4 where, despite feeling weak, she discussed a controversial proposal from a committee she led.
She died Tuesday as a result of breast cancer.
A memorial service for Miller will be held at 7 p.m. Monday at Bethany Lutheran Church, 8 Lincoln St., Batavia. There is no wake, but a reception "to tell Linnea stories" will be held at the church after the service, her husband, Buzz, said.
Miller, first diagnosed more than five years ago, chose to stay in office when the cancer returned about 10 months ago.
"What was important to her was not going to Tahiti, but finishing some of the things she had started and to see (them) to fruition with the city," Buzz said.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to the LivingWell Cancer Resource Center of Geneva. Or "to almost anything that benefits Batavia," said Buzz, such as the Batavia Interfaith Food Pantry, in keeping with his wife's commitment to help the community.
Linnea and Buzz were named 2009 Citizens of the Year in late December by the Batavia Chamber of Commerce, and were to receive the award Jan. 30. Chamber of Commerce Director Roger Breisch, who has been friends with the Millers for 20 years, called her death "a tremendous loss to the community."
"We will still have our event; it will simply become an opportunity to gather, celebrate her life and find strength in coming together to support Buzz and her entire family," Breisch said.
Buzz and Linnea met through a mutual friend, one of Linnea's fellow flight attendants for United Airlines. At first, they were just friends, Buzz said. It took months for him to realize he should get serious about dating "this sweet, comfortable, caring person that was just around a bunch," he said.
They married in 1973, and moved to Batavia in 1978 when they started their family.
"We decided her primary responsibility would be working with our short people," Buzz said of their decision for her to be a stay-at-home mother. They had three children - Corey, Elizabeth and Alex - and one grandchild, Sebastien.
Linnea began volunteering, first for her children's schools and Scout troops.
When they were older, her attention turned to the community at large. She became involved with Literacy Volunteers of America, and was president of Preservation Partners of the Fox Valley. She was influenced by the community service of her own mother, and her mother-in-law, Buzz said.
She joined the city council in 1995, representing the 3rd Ward.
"It was just a delight to watch her find new avenues to grow and to serve," Buzz said.
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<li><a href="/story/?id=350364"> Batavia Alderman Miller dies of cancer <span class="date">[01/15/10]</span></a></li>
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