Amy Therese Miller

Amy Therese Miller passed away on November 8, 2024 peacefully at home with loving family surrounding her. She was alert and active up until the night before she died.

Amy was born on August 2, 1976 in Chicago, IL. and grew up in Homewood, IL and Algonquin, IL. Her parents are Don and Connie (Thopy) Miller. She graduated from Jacobs High School in Algonquin. She went on to Xavier University in Cincinnati, where she obtained her bachelor’s degree in business administration. Amy lived her adult life in the northwest suburbs.

She suffered a great loss when her brother, Douglas Jay Miller passed away in 2003. They were the best of friends. Amy is survived by her sister Lisa Aguirre (Jorge). They just loved calling each other Sister, and treasured all the times they spent together. Amy also shared love with five nieces and nephews: Meredith Sutton (Mike), Alex Elston, Isabella Aguirre, Antonio Aguirre, and Arianna Elston Sutton.

Amy found love and companionship with Nelson Bump in 2019. It was a deep and caring relationship that survived many health challenges on both sides. Nelson lovingly took on full time caregiving for Amy from the day she was first diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in September, 2023. This enabled Amy to enjoy the comfort of her home until she died.

She loved her career as a massage therapist for ten years. She certainly enjoyed helping others. Her clients loved her, and so did her work friends. She was a supportive mentor to others in her work. Massage therapy was physically demanding, so Amy took steps to change careers, to go into nursing. She excelled in the prerequisite classes at Elgin Community College. She was accepted into the nursing program shortly after her cancer diagnosis. She was proud of her hard work and excellent grades, but was crushed because she knew she couldn’t go on. She wanted to help others, and was drawn to hospice care.

Amy’s loving characteristics became more pronounced in her final year of life. She embraced her family, and the loving support they gave to her. She claimed she was spoiled, and really appreciated it. She knew that graciously allowing people to serve you is a gift to the servers. At the same time, she was very compassionate with others, whether it was an illness or grief over the loss of a loved one. She talked about heaven, God’s love, and Scripture. She loved her weekly Scripture / Communion services. She was willing to talk openly about her own journey, and put people at ease while doing so.

Amy made a huge yet gentle impression on all she encountered. She will be greatly missed by us all.

A visitation for Amy will be held on Wednesday, November 13, 2024 from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM along with a Time of Prayer and Sharing to begin at 7:00 PM that evening all at Willow Funeral Home 1415 W. Algonquin Rd., (one half mile east of Randall Rd.) Algonquin/Lake in the Hills.

Family & friends will gather on Thursday, November 14, 2024 beginning at 10:00 AM directly at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church 111 S. Hubbard St. in Algonquin followed by a Funeral Mass to be Celebrated at 11:00 AM.

Interment will follow at Windridge Memorial Park in Cary.

In lieu of planting a memorial tree, please direct memorials to the following charities:

1. Catholic Assistance Missions, 4320 Crestwood Dr., McHenry, Illinois 60050 (a tax-exempt charity aid for Haiti).

2. Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. Please donate through www.pancan.org (In the "Memorial Donations" enter in honor of Amy Miller).

Online condolences may also be expressed to the family by clicking on "Tribute Wall".

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Amy Therese Miller, please visit our floral store.