JANESVILLE/MONROE - Arita M. Miller, age 77, of Monroe and formerly of Janesville, died on Tuesday, July 14, 2009, at Monroe Manor. She was born in Elgin, IL on May 16, 1932, the daughter of Jewel and Mary Jane (Poffenberger) Copeland. She married Charles W. Miller in Elgin, IL on Nov. 17, 1950, and he preceded her in death on July 1, 2004. Arita had been employed as a Registered Nurse for various nursing homes and hospitals. She was a former member of churches in the Argyle and Freeport areas and Monroe as well. She loved to sing and started singing in nursing homes, hospitals and in the JL Choral. She enjoyed bowling, playing the piano and the organ.

She is survived by her two sons, Tim (Darci) Miller of Freeport and Philip (Elaine) Miller of Janesville; one daughter, Cynthia Bell of Evansville, IN; seven grandchildren: Scott, Jessica, Jenny, Joshua, Heather, Jake and Nick; three great-grandchildren: Daniel, Terry and Zavion; and three sisters: Mary Pestor of Evansville, Evelyn (Frank) Surzyn of Noblesville, IN and Lorraine York of Lynchburg, VA. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; two sons, Jeffrey and Daniel Miller; two grandchildren, Jason and Carrie; and one brother, Jewel McKinley Copeland.

A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, July 17, 2009, at SCHNEIDER APFEL SCHNEIDER & SCHNEIDER FUNERAL HOME with Rev. Matthew Spoonhour officiating. Interment will be in Udina Cemetery, Dundee, IL. A visitation will be held on Friday from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at SCHNEIDER APFEL SCHNEIDER & SCHNEIDER FUNERAL HOME. For on-line condolences and registry: www.schneiderfuneraldirectors.com