Ella Lorraine Miller, 90, formerly of Bethlehem, passed away peacefully in her home in Bath on Saturday, November 16, 2024. Her husband of 62 years, Richard Mentzer Miller, Jr., died April 11, 2018.

Born in East Donegal Township, she was the daughter of the late Lawrence C. and Florence (Engle) Barnhart.

Lorraine (Ella) grew up in Maytown, Pa just outside Lancaster. She met and married Richard Miller in 1956. They started their family with David (1957) then Michael (1960) and rounded out with Julie (1967). As a young wife and mother Lorraine was involved with her church, local politics and scouting as Cub Scout Den Mother for David and Michael.

In 1973 Richard's work with Bell Telephone moved them to Bethlehem. Dick and Lorraine quickly found a home church at Messiah Lutheran Church. Both became involved and they dedicated their time and talents to serving there. Lorraine sang in the choir, ushered/ greeted, taught Bible studies, quilted and served in Women's ministries.

Lorraine was also actively involved in Julie's brownie troop and was a well known mom to the neighborhood kids. Aside from being an awesome mom, she took community classes to stay active and involved.

One class, quilting, started as a hobby and quickly became an art form and a passion. She created hundreds of hand-pieced quilts and other pieces including her award winning quilt, "Return of the Monarch". She taught classes on quilting to young and old, formally and informally. There is a legacy of artwork through Quilting that she passed on to hundreds of people.

Lorraine loved spending time with her family, especially grandchildren and great grandchildren (including grand-dogs, -cats, -ducks, -chickens :)

Lorraine and Dick enjoyed traveling. Whether pop-up camping with their kids growing up or vacations spent with family and friends to places near and far, they were always up for an adventure! They traveled the east coast from Maine to Florida and revisited favorite places like Williamsburg and Branson, even planning special trips to St John and Hawaii.

Lorraine never lost her wit, wisdom, humor and feistiness. She was always up for an adventure and taught us all to embrace life to the fullest!

For all who knew Lorraine, we are blessed to have called her mom, grandmother and friend.

Ella Lorraine was a member of Blessed Trinity at Rosemont Lutheran Church (formerly Messiah Lutheran Church).

Surviving are her daughter, Julie Kish (Joseph), with whom she resided; sons, David Miller (Margaret) of Trevorton, PA and Michael Miller (Linda) of Ajo, Arizona; five grandchildren, Emily, Robert, Melissa, Emilia, and Joseph; two great-grandsons; and a great-great- grandson. She was predeceased by a brother Kenneth Barnhart.

A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 PM on Sunday, December 8, in the Pearson Funeral Home, 1901 Linden Street, Bethlehem, PA. An additional Memorial Gathering will be announced for the Spring of 2025.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to the church or Bayada Hospice, 1 Philadelphia Avenue - 4th floor, Boyertown, PA 19512.