Rhona M. Milich

Rhona M. Milich

February 11, 1924 - August 07, 2013

Rhona M. Milich

February 11, 1924 - August 07, 2013

Obituary

RHONA MARGARET (PEGGY) MILICH
Born February 11, 1924
Went Home August 7, 2013

Her Funeral Service will be at
Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church
105 N. La Esperanza, San Clemente at
12:00 P.M. on Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Peggy is survived by four children, Valory Lantry Donald O’Brien, Thomas and Christopher Milich her son-in-law John Lantry and daughter-in law Gladys O’Brien; six grandchildren David and Philip Lantry, Joely Lawrence, Casey O’Brien, Katie O’Brien, and Beth McClory; her beloved nieces and nephews Dawn Scherer, Edward (Billy) Burleight , Robin Bachand ,Todd and Jeffrey Lincoln and their children. She was preceded in death by her husband Vlado and daughter Leslie (Kittty) O’Brien. She leaves numerous extended family and friends who she held very dear.

Peggy’s life was a book with diverse chapters. As a young woman she joined the Waves and served on Coronado Island at the Naval Hospital as a nurse during WWII. She modeled woman’s clothes, once in full riding habit mounting a horse from the wrong side.

She was amazing single mother of three children she reared in Massachusetts. On several occasions she interceded, once tackling the neighborhood bully and washing his face in the snow. When the kid ran home to tell his father, he came out with fire in his eyes. He took one look at the 5′ woman turned to his son and said “that’s the woman” and went back in the house. Nope you didn’t want to rile the Irish in Peggy.

She returned to California where she met and married Val Milich. They extended their family adding two sons, Tom and Chris. At this juncture in her life she became a Cub Scout leader. One of her meetings consisted of sending her little Cub Scouts to the field next door for Walkie Talkie practice. To this day there is a GI Joe MIA in that field!

A favorite story is overhearing Tom and Chris playing. Mom heard one of them say let’s have coffee in peace!

Peggy and Val reached a stage of their lives where they became Camp Ground hosts in Oregon. Later they joined a Christian organization MAPS. They traveled the lower 48 states working on Christian churches, schools and camps.

When health issues forced them to “retire” they spent the next ten year volunteering at Mary’s Mercy Center in San Bernardino feeding the homeless and working in the office.

After Val’s passing she moved to the Villa in San Clemente. She spent the last four years in the lap of luxury. She went from tee shirts and shorts to the belle of the ball. She indulged in clothes, jewelry and weekly hair appointments. She was extremely active at the Villa. She served on the council committee. She was an avid Bingo, Poker, and Scrabble player. Her monthly trips to the Casino were a high light. She would play the slots one penny at a time and do lunch with her friend.

She led a truly remarkable life. Peggy touched countless lives and never met a stranger, even in the grocery store.

Her family would be honored and thrilled if you share a special moment in her life with them.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Mary’s Mercy Center, PO BOX 7563, San Bernardino CA. 92411. You can visit their web site @ www.Marysmercycenter.org.

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22 responses to Rhona M. Milich

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  1. I am so very sorry to hear about your loss, Tom. Your mom was a very special woman to have such a great son as you in her life. I hope you take comfort in knowing that she is in a better place. God Bless. Brigitte

  2. Lit a candle in memory of Rhona M. Milich

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  4. Jack George says:

    Peg is a “PERFECT EXAMPLE” of what a “MOM’ is! If you were a person in a room, Peggy would search you out to meet you, to know your family or your story; always prepared with a kind thought or word, which made you feel important. She would hold your relationship in her heart and share it with the Lord, and would always want to know where you were with your journey to the Lord! You must know she is with the Lord now praying for our place. Remember the Lord has a plan for you now!

    Be at Peace!

    Our prayers are with you!

    The George’s in Texas

  5. My dear Aunt Peg was such a love. She truly impacted my life with her love, inspiration, and devotion to our Lord Jesus.

    I remember when aunt Peg, and my cousins had once lived at Oak Courts, Greenfield Ma. and the fun we had going to visit over the Mohawk Trail. How she would yell at the bigger kids,”And don’t lose Robin!” Of course they would, on purpose!
    On one visit, I remember aunt Peg had her wisdom teeth out, and wow, talk about holy,moly! She had those teeth next to her bed on the night stand! At 6yrs. old, that leaves an impression! Hence, I became a dental assistant some years later.

    When she took the kids out to California, we had a lot of long distance phone calls, and letters. But, the love she shared for us back east was insurmountable! She always looked out for and prayed for her neices and nephews in North Adams. I swear it was her prayers that kept us out of harms way!

    In the more recent years, she came back east to visit my mom, her sister Dot with my cousin Valory. Of course mom was in the Bennington Vt. hospital, so to ease the pain of seeing her sister so sick I thought a nice little tour of Vermont would be the ticket. So, she, Valory and my sister-in-law took her to see some sights near the town of Readsboro, where I live.

    The first stop was the Jacksonville Winery, oh how she and I loved the samples of wine and snacks! After about 45 mins. of tasting, we made our purchases and tottled out of the place, at 10:30! How we laughed, and she said, ” What’s for lunch?” Off to Wilmington it was for lunch. She marveled at the beautiful colors of the trees that where starting to change as it was mid September. We really had a ball that day, buying our pumpkin ornaments, and to this day I still have the Vermont T shirt she bought me!

    When my husband and I went out to visit the family in California back in July 2001 she and Val took us to see their sights. So off to San Juan Capistrano Missions, and of course the Ortega highway! My hubby drove as this was like New England driving for him.
    A few days later they took us to Pasadena Ca. to see the end of the Great American Race. We had such a wonderful time, great food, great cars, and a lot of great laughs were had by all.

    Although my heart aches today at the passing of dear Aunt Peg, I am rejoicing in the fact that another dear saint has gone “home”.

    Much love, and prayers to my cousins and their families.

    Robin Jayne

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