Patricia “Ellen” Miller

Patricia “Ellen” Miller (Cearley), 80, passed away peacefully on April 4, 2026, in Lodi, California, surrounded by her loved ones after a long and courageous battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Ellen was born on November 23, 1945, in Fresno, California, to Frederick "William" Hansen and Elaine Robinson. She was raised in Fresno, where she graduated from Fresno High School and later attended Fresno City College. As a young girl, she was active in Girl Scouts and cherished her time at Camp El-O-Win. In her youth, she was also very involved with Job’s Daughters. She shared a close and special relationship with her grandparents, Aileen Hickman Robinson and Charles Robinson, spending treasured time with them in San Francisco and later in San Jose.

She was married to Franklin "Dale" Roe in January of 1969. They had three daughters together, but separated in 1975, and eventually divorced in August of 1983.

Ellen met Fred Miller in 1985 through the Church’s single adult program. Both chose to open their hearts and give love another chance, and they were married on April 16, 1988, in Fresno, California. Their union was later solemnized in the Oakland California Temple for time and all eternity on July 16, 1988.

Ellen spent most of her life in Fresno, with periods living in Sanger, California; Provo, Utah; and San Jose, California. In 2018, following her Alzheimer’s diagnosis, she moved to Lodi to be closer to family.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Elaine Cearley; her father, William Hansen; and her beloved husband, Frederick Anthony Miller Jr.

Ellen is survived by her daughters, Christy Bell (Ian), Lisa VanNortwick (Aaron), and Marci Birrell (Jameson). She was a devoted grandmother to Chloe Romain (Nik), Riley VanNortwick, Ella Birrell, Alea Birrell, Rosa Bell, Averi Birrell, and Eve Birrell.

Ellen and her husband Fred, also formed a deep and lasting friendship with Mitch and Stacey Hirano, informally adopting their children—Carrianne, Alyssa, Mandy, and Natalie—as their own grandchildren. They loved them as family, creating cherished memories together, including trips to Disneyland and Hawaii.

Ellen was known for her fierce love of family, her deep desire to serve others, and her generosity and kindness. She was deeply devoted to her children and grandchildren, always encouraging them to follow their dreams and complete their education. In her retirement years, she focused on spending as much time as possible with her family, often “living out of her suitcase” as she traveled between Santa Cruz, Lodi, and Lemoore to be with those she loved.

She loved to travel. She delighted in taking her children, and later her grandchildren, to Camp Chawanakee, Yosemite, Disneyland and on girl’s weekends to Monterey or San Francisco. She traveled to Hawaii multiple times, and enjoyed cruises to Mexico and Alaska. She visited Russia to spend time with her daughter while she was teaching there, and took several trips to the East Coast and Pacific Northwest. She also enjoyed trips with her family to Idaho and Utah. Some of her most cherished moments were peaceful getaways to the California coast with her husband Fred, visiting places like Cambria, Pacific Grove, Pismo Beach, Cayucos, and Carmel.

Ellen also had a love for life’s simple joys—especially chocolate and cats. She loved dark chocolate especially, and always had a beloved cat by her side over the years.

A faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since the age of 18, Ellen served in many callings throughout her life. She had a special love for serving in Primary, in the Relief Society presidency, and in the Hmong Branch. She and her husband also served together as a “Feed My Sheep” couple, mentoring and supporting those newly baptized into the Church. They also enjoyed serving in the temple together. Known for her compassion and love of babies, she was often seen holding and comforting babies in the halls during church meetings, giving young mothers a chance to rest and participate in classes, an act of quiet service that reflected her love for others and understanding of how hard it can be to be a mom.

For three decades, Ellen was the heart and soul of the funeral home located at 2983 Tulare Street in downtown Fresno. Through every transition — from Palm Funeral Service, to Palm Colonial Funeral Home, to Bucheim Family Palm Colonial Funeral Home, and finally Palm La Paz Funeral Home — Ellen remained the constant face of compassion, dignity, and care. She guided countless families through some of life’s most difficult moments with kindness and grace, leaving a lasting impression on the community she faithfully served. Her dedication was especially meaningful to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, many of whom came to know and trust her deeply over the years. More than an employee, Ellen was a source of comfort, strength, and reassurance for generations of Fresno families.

She will be remembered for always putting her family first, and for her strength, resilience, and perseverance through life’s challenges. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her. A beloved wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, granddaughter, and friend, her legacy of love and devotion will live on in the lives she touched.

A family graveside service will be held on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at Clovis Cemetery. A memorial service will follow on May 30, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, North Stake Center, 220 N Peach Ave., Clovis, California.

The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to the caregivers at Brookdale Memory Care and Seva Hospice for their love, compassion, and dedicated care.

"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith."

-2 Timothy 4:7

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that memorial donations be made to Cure Alzheimer's Fund in honor of Patricia "Ellen" Miller.