Eleanor Margaret Miller
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Eleanor's obituary
Eleanor Miller of Powell River BC passed away peacefully surrounded by love and kindness on Saturday December 23 at the age of 80.
Eleanor was born in 1943 in Winnipeg to Albert “Tom” Phillips and Isobel Joey “Tibbi” Phillips (nee Fordyce).
Her father Tom was an Airforce Training Pilot who was killed during WWII when Eleanor was 2 years old. Her mother later remarried Mervyn Arthur Hardie and had three more children, Murray, Mervyn Arthur (Jr aka “Pete”) and Mackenzie.
Eleanor spent her childhood between the Yellowknife and Ottawa as her Stepfather Merv was the MP for the MacKenzie Delta Riding (NWT).
Her mother Isabel “Tibbi” Hardie took over the role after he passed away, becoming the NWTs’ first female MP.
Eleanor had plenty of entertaining stories to tell about growing up in the Territories and her school days in two Ottawa Convents.
Eleanor met and married Donald Bowers Miller of Edmonton and had a daughter, Tara (Miller) Kingman. They lived in Ottawa and the surrounding area for many years, enjoying all the city had to offer. Eleanor would cycle to work in the summer and skate to work on the Rideau canal in the winter. The family would often spend weekends cross country skiing or hiking in nearby Gatineau Park depending on the season.
Eleanor was an avid cross country skier and often completed marathons.
Don worked for Air Canada which enabled the family to go on many international travel adventures during the 1970’s. This included a visit to Haiti, another to Algiers and Morocco and an extended stay in Spain.
The family moved out to Southview Rd north of Powell River in 1971 after several summer visits to spend with dear friends from Ontario who had relocated earlier.
They lived in a tipi that Eleanor created while carving out a clearing in the rainforest and building a beautiful house in the woods.
It was a challenging but rewarding life with no mod cons that required constant vigilance to keep the bush from taking over. Eventually all the Southview residents worked together to have electricity brought up the road.
In 1978 the family moved to Victoria so Eleanor and Don could continue their education at UVIC.
Eleanor became a Library Technician and worked in this capacity at UVIC.
At this time she also became involved in volunteering to support Women’s Rights. This became a lifelong passion for her.
In 1980 she moved back to Powell River and began work with the School Board first at the Resource Centre, then Max Cameron and lastly at Brookes Secondary School.
She loved working with the students and was also a proud Union member, participating in the Powell River Labour Council for a number of years to protect and further workers rights.
During this time she met the acclaimed writer Ann Cameron. They purchased what is now Windfall Farm at the north edge of Wildwood and ran it as a Hobby Farm for many happy hardworking years, selling their goods at the local Farmers Market.
She eventually retired to Hillcrest Avenue in Wildwood to spend time gardening, admiring the beautiful ocean and island view, walking her llama and later her two alpacas and various dogs over the years. Many around the neighborhood knew her as the Llama Lady.
Eleanor loved to travel. Two of her most transformative adventures were a trip to the Stein Valley with a group of at-risk Indigenous youth and later a dream camping trip to Iceland with her daughter Tara.
She enjoyed being in the forest, beach sunsets, rainbows, starry nights, gardening, bird watching, camelids, dogs, children, baking delicious pies to share, the colour purple and Chapmans Caramel Pecan Crunch frozen yogurt.
Eleanor was predeceased by father Albert “Tom” Phillips, mother Isabel Joey “Tibbi” Hardie (nee Fordyce), stepfather Mervyn Arthur Hardie and brother Mackenzie Hardie.
She is survived by daughter Tara Kingman (nee Miller) and brothers Murray Hardie and Mervyn “Pete”Hardie Jr.
No Service will be held per Eleanor’s wishes.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to PROWLS, the Pacific Salmon Foundation or the Salvation Army.
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