Mary Mell Miller

OPELOUSAS- A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, May 2nd at 1:00 PM at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church in Opelousas, LA for Mary Mell D. Miller, age 93, who peacefully passed away on Tuesday, April 29th at her residence. The family will receive guests at Sibille Funeral Home on Friday, May 2nd from 9 am until 12:30 pm. A Rosary will be prayed in the funeral home at 10:30 am by her daughter-in-law, Cynthia Miller. The Eulogy will follow by her grandson, Hart Littell. Interment will be in Bellevue Memorial Park. The Reverend Jude Thierry will serve as Celebrant of the Mass and graveside service accompanied by Deacon Ed Boustany. Lectors will be Pat Miller Dupuis and Alexis Miller Womack; Sharee Hunter will play the music for the Mass.

Mary Mell Daigle Miller, daughter of Joseph Clarence and Anita Thibodeaux Daigle, was born on August 2, 1931 in the quaint town of Church Point, LA. Mell had six siblings who preceded her in death, Lawrence Daigle, Warren Daigle (Clara), Lena D. Mills (Theo), Anna Lee D. Bourque (Odon), Madgeline D. Mills (John) and Jean D. Halphen (Lee).

Mell married Joseph Max Miller Sr. on April 23, 1950 and remained faithfully married for 64 years until his death on October 16, 2013. Max and Mell had five children, Joseph, Jr. “Rick”, Connie, Trista, Dale and Gary.

A proud graduate of Sunset High School and T.H. Harris Trade School, her educational achievements laid a strong foundation for the successful and fulfilling career she enjoyed. Mell began her professional journey at Planters Bank and further showcased her skill and dedication at St. Landry Bank & Trust Co., where she was employed for over 50 years.

Mell had a zest for life that extended beyond her professional endeavors. She created lasting memories camping with her beloved companion, Max, as part of the Bayou Campers Group. Together, they ventured across the globe, sharing adventures in destinations such as Acapulco, Spain, Africa, Greece, and Austria. Mell and Max loved people and were always ready to entertain or go on a trip with new friends. An ongoing joke was that if you said “GO” Mell was always the first one in the car.

Mell’s generous spirit and commitment to service were evident in her active participation in various local organizations. Mell was a cherished member of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court St. Landry #119, the Ladies Altar Society, Our Lady of Mercy Rosary Group, and several Pokeno Groups. Mell was a lifelong parishioner of Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church; she later served by tallying funds for the church. Mell and Max cherished their Catholic faith, and their family and friends’ activities centered around church functions. Mell loved cooking, baking and entertaining family and friends alike. She loved home economics, family and friends were all recipients of her skillfully made delicious dishes. If you were ever invited for her Easter favorite crawfish bisque and her homemade Christmas breads, you were in for a real treat! Mell also enjoyed the solace of being outdoors tending to and working in her garden. The memories shared with family and friends are traditions Mell hoped would live on for generations to come.

Her servants’ heart led her on many occasions to offer assistance to people in need. Mell was loved by all who were blessed to know her. She was quite a lady and was affectionately called the QUEEN until her passing. The queen could often be found at her favorite shopping trio, TJ Max, Stein Mart and Tuesday Morning. She was also a faithful member of the QVC shopping channel.

Mell is survived by her daughters, Connie Lantier and Trista Littell (Benny); sons, Dale Miller (Cynthia) and Gary Miller (Karla); 11 grandchildren, Aimee Miller, Mickey (Amanda) and Melanie Lantier, Hart Littell (Erika), Stacey Littell, Carly LeJeune (Zack), Sharee McPherson (Rob), Alexis Womack (Todd), Stephon Miller, Kaitlin Artall (Nick) and Christian Miller; 27 great-grandchildren; Holden Darbonne, Hunter Andrepont, Hayden Miller, Kassy, Riggen and Ramsey Lantier, Natalee and Rayleigh Gilcrease, Bailee Roy (Nick), Dylan Centeno, Bernard Littell III, Grace and Lucille Littell, Robert and Eleanor LeJeune, Gracie Slocum, Caleb Hopkins (Emily), MaKayla Littell, Dylan Hopkins, Braedyn, Kinsley and Gabriel Womack, Stryker, Jensen and Karter Miller, Lucy and Ellenor Jane Artall; 5 great-great-grandchildren, Harvey Andrepont, Ella Self, McKinley Slocum, Kohen Hopkins, and Zealan Littell.

Mell was preceded in death by her loving husband, Joseph Max Miller, Sr.; her eldest son, Joseph “Rick” Max Miller, Jr.; her parents, Joseph Clarence and Anita T. Daigle; and her mother and father-in-law, Charles and Eunice Miller.

Pallbearers will be Dale Miller, Gary Miller, Benny Littell, Mickey Lantier, Hart Littell Stephon Miller, Christian Miller, and Holden Darbonne.

A heartfelt appreciation is extended by the Miller family to the staff of St. Landry Hospice and Palliative Care, Stephanie Lewis, Terry Sylvester, Tish Guillory, RN, Patrice Green, Betty Green, and her dear friends, Bev Soileau and Mary Gautreaux for their great care and compassion.

Words of Comfort to the family may be expressed at www.sibillefuneralhomes.com. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Sibille Funeral Home of Opelousas.