This is the family remembrance that our daughter Lila and I read at my mom Tina Miller’s funeral. She left us on May 5, 2024 after just two round of treatment for multiple myeloma. Life is short, someday is now. You can watch/listen to the service and this eulogy here.
Mom had a lot of names. Her doctors called her Christine.
Her friends and family called her Tina.
Her closest friends called her Tina Tina Ballerina.
Her nieces and nephews called her Auntie Tina.
Craig, Eric and I called her mom.
And the people she loved the most on this planet called her Nana.
She also was a “Wordle Queen’ and loved to play the word game. We’d play it together when we were visiting. We played it in doctor’s waiting room, and when she was inpatient, it was my husband Bob’s running joke to keep her distracted and feeling normal. He’d end every call or visit with, “Tina did you get Wordle today?!” One day in January after five grueling treatments she left me a voicemail elated that she got it in one word – If you play Wordle you know that’s a big deal… She said, “Things are looking up I can feel it!”
(You can watch service and hear voicemail here.)
So, in the spirt of Wordle, we going to try to describe her in words of five letters, and the lessons we all can take from how she lived.
BRAVE– Nana was so brave in her life. From becoming a widow at a young age, to marrying a pilot, to raising three teenagers, and then the way she faced her treatment head on. Her medical challenges were immense, and overcoming those, plus the pain and sleeping alone away from home for 76 nights – it took a lot of courage and strength – As did living with papa for 51 years.
FUNNY – Our daughter Emy especially LOVED mom’s silly, outgoing, fun, personality. We all did. We loved riding roller coasters, going on vacations, and of course it was never a party without her. She embodied fun, made sure everyone was included, and made the best of every situation.
VIVID – Have you met anyone like her that could light up a room with a smile? Nana was a ray of sunlight beaming down on all of us. She was bright, uplifting, and positive always bringing hope and love.
HEART – Mom had the biggest heart on the planet and loved fiercely. She put her family first, and was the most caring, giving, and selfless person. She was always ready, willing and able to help, we are all lucky to have received her love.
Mom helping me throw one of many birthday parties for our girls, while my husband was out of town.
DANCE – Nana loved to dance and teach us the tango, and loved a good wedding to cut loose. My mom doesn’t have a childhood memory that didn’t involve her in Michigan dancing with Aunt Helen, Barb, Debbie or Amy, and the rest of her large family. She told mom at the last rehab facility that the one thing she was going to miss the most was dancing.
GRACE – Mom lived with so much grace. She forgave, she understood, she was empathetic, and she never pushed anyone to be or do anything they didn’t want to. She just kept giving, knowing that someday all of that love would return to her.
So I’m hoping as we reflect and celebrate her life here today, we can all remember these 3 four letter words and try to LIVE LIKE TINA.
Be kind. Selfless. Giving.
Make time for family. Love hard. Stay present. Care for others.
Buy way too many gifts for every holiday. Live with a childlike wonder.
And never forget to have fun – she wouldn’t have it any other way.
