Joyce Kathryn (Knodel) Miller

On Wednesday, April 12, 2023, our beloved Mother, Joyce Kathryn Knodel Miller, age 93, passed away at her home, La Vida Llena Life Plan Community (LVL). She was born in Saginaw, MI and graduated from Saginaw General Hospital School of Nursing in 1950 and the University of Michigan School of Anesthesia in 1952. She married Richard Alexander Miller on June 2, 1956, in Midland, Texas. They first settled in El Paso and in 1961 moved to their permanent home in Albuquerque. The couple had 3 children, Michael, Kathryn and Dorothy, of whom Kathryn and Dorothy survive.

During the early years, Joyce was a Cub Scout and Camp Fire leader and "Timer" for the kid's AAU swimming team. She and her family also enjoyed water skiing and camping at Elephant Butte Lake. She was able to master skiing with 2 skis, but not quite able to ski on one. The family also owned a camper and traveled to most of the 48 contiguous states.

After Kathryn and Dorothy were grown and on their own, Richard and Joyce enjoyed their later years playing golf and traveling the world together. They visited every continent on the globe except Antarctica. Joyce was also a member of the Puerto Del Sol Ladies Golf Association, earning a trophy for most improved player in 2003.

Joyce was a lifetime member of the Episcopal Church and served as communion minister, lay reader, Senior Warden and with various women's groups. She also made the St. Patrick's Day corned beef and cabbage dinners for St. Mark's for 15 years and was appointed representative to Church Women United. She was most proud of her involvement to the Daughters of the King, serving for over 40 years. She always put her faith in God above all else.

After Richard's death in 2006, Joyce moved to La Vida Llena where she joyfully lived out the rest of her days. She was affectionately called the Flower Lady because on Sunday afternoons, she would separate the larger bouquets of flowers from the chapel services into bud vases and distribute them to the residents in the Health Care section of LVL.

A Visitation will be held Saturday, April 29, 2023, at 9:30 a.m., followed by a Funeral Service at 10:00 a.m., at St. Mary's Episcopal Church, 1500 Chelwood Park Blvd., NE - Albuquerque, NM 87112. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery, 924 Menaul Blvd NE in Albuquerque. Memorial donations may be made to St. Mary's Episcopal Church or the La Vida Llena Resident's Association Scholarship Fund.