Helen Petra Miller, 74, of Mexican-German descent passed away peacefully on April 8, 2023, in Sylvania, Ohio due to complications from Multiple Myeloma. Born in Toledo on November 13, 1948, to John and Virginia Cortez. Helen graduated from Notre Dame Academy in 1967. She was a loving wife of 54 years to Joe and raised three loving children. Helen was a proud grandmother of two grandsons. She loved spending time with her family every chance she got, especially for family dinners, vacations, and holidays. She loved spoiling her grandsons and taking them on shopping trips to the Dollar Store. She was the secretary, aka "The Queen", of Sylvania Maplewood Elementary School for 37 years. She also enjoyed spending time in the kitchen, gardening, listening to both Mexican and Italian music, as well as spending time in her pool. Our fondest memories of her were during the Christmas season, enjoying all her decorating efforts, especially her collection of Santa Clauses.
Helen is survived by her husband Joe; her sons, Randy, Craig (Michelle); daughter, Sara; grandsons, Evan and Logan; siblings, Dorothy (Allen) Golden, John Cortez Jr., Robert Cortez, Gloria Flores, and Stephen (Deb Campos) Cortez; sister-in-law, Elsie Keller; numerous nieces, nephews, and friends. She was preceded in death by her father, mother and 5 siblings.
Her family would like to give a special thank you to The Toledo Clinic Cancer Center, Dr. Kasunic, his staff, and especially Becky and Joella; University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center, especially Dr. Pianko, and nurse Brandy Meyers; and Karmanos Cancer Institute, especially Dr. Kin, and nurse Kristie Miller.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, April 22, 2023 from 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at the Electrical Industry Banquet Facility, 727 Lime City Road, Rossford, Ohio 43460.
The family requests, in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Helen's name to the
International Myeloma Foundation (IMF), 4400 Coldwater Canyon Ave, Suite 300, Studio City, CA 91604.
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