Joanne C. Miller

Joanne Capelli Miller, beloved mother and grandmother, died peacefully surrounded by her family on October 27. 

Joanne was born on September 7, 1949 to Francis Capelli and Catherine Weinacht Capelli in Camden, NJ. She grew up in Roxborough, PA, but her happy place was always “down the shore”. 

Joanne had an artistic flair that threaded through her life in many ways. Originally planning to be an illustrator for children’s books, she briefly attended Temple University’s Tyler School of Art. When she and William (Bill) Miller became engaged, she left school to work at the Free Library of Philadelphia. After their twin daughters were born, Joanne crafted one-of-a-kind hand sewn outfits, Halloween costumes, and doll clothes for them, in addition to quilting and needlework. 

Joanne took her daughters thrift shopping as soon as they could walk. She taught them: “It’s not a bargain if you won’t wear it!” Her style was unique and she loved to experiment with fashion, color, and texture. Joanne’s Christmas gifts were always beautifully wrapped with great care and attention to detail. She hid out in the basement for weeks to do this.

When the girls were small, Joanne worked as a transcriptionist for court stenographers, typing late into the evenings after they went to bed. Later, she accepted a position as school administrator at Friends’ School Haverford. Joanne thrived at Friends’ School, where she truly valued her work and the community; she stayed in this position for over two decades. Children visited Mrs. Miller for band-aids, comfort, and the dish of lemon drops she kept on her desk. 

Anyone who knew Joanne knew how much she adored cats. Her family felines were all local rescues, often right off the streets. After retirement from Friends’ School, Joanne served as a volunteer at the Providence Animal Shelter. When poor health limited physical activity, she financially sponsored adoptions for “problem” cats who might not otherwise find a home.

Joanne and Bill were married for 51 years until his death in 2022. She is survived by daughters Heather Miller Lardin and Jennifer Martin, sons-in-law Cliff Lardin and Daniel Martin, and grandchildren Kai, Joshua, and Anna. 

Relatives and friends are invited to her Funeral Service 11:00 AM on Friday, November 17, 2023 at Church of the Good Shepherd, 1116 Lancaster Ave, Rosemont, PA 19010.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Providence Animal Center.

https://providenceac.org/