MILLER, Donna Rae Miller

At 4:00 a.m. on September 15, 2025, Donna Rae Miller — known to many as Momma Donna — took her final breath and set out on the grandest road trip of all. She left this world the same way she lived in it: quietly, without complaint, and on her own terms.

Born March 11, 1949, Donna was the very definition of resilience. At 28, she became a single mother and carried the weight of the world on her shoulders — but you’d rarely hear her complain. As her favorite saying went, “The woman wouldn’t say *** even if her mouth was full of it.”

In her younger years, you could find her at Renfrew’s infamous White House tavern, chugging beers with the boys, cranking country music, and raising a little hell. When motherhood came, she traded pitchers for Pepsi but never gave up her love for road trips. With her daughter by her side, she ventured across provinces, from small-town backroads to cross-country journeys all the way to BC.

Donna loved simple joys: bingo nights, card games, cigarettes, hearty food, and a cold Pepsi. She wasn’t one for grand speeches, but she was always a steady presence — a listener, a comfort, a rock. She taught through action more than words.

In retirement, a lighter, more playful side of Donna shone through. At Country Haven, where she spent her final years, she was adored by the staff for her dry humor and quiet kindness. She made them laugh, eased their days, and reminded them — and all of us — that presence is a gift.

Donna was an exceptional mother, a caring friend, and a thoughtful human being. She lived her truth even when it wasn’t easy to let others in. Her greatest lesson was simple but profound: love is not self-sacrifice — it is a balance between caring for others and caring for yourself.

If she could leave one final message, it would be this: “Take care of your body and mind. We only get one in our lifetime.”

She leaves behind her beloved daughter, Stephanie Miller, extended family, and a circle of friends who carry her memory like a badge of strength.

A celebration of her life will be held at a date that will be announced in the near future. Friends are invited to share stories, laughter, and maybe even a Pepsi in her honour.

Fly free, Momma Donna. The road is wide open.

Arrangements entrusted to the care of the Goulet Funeral Home