Obituaries

Rhonda Jean (McDonald) Miller, of Cedarville, Michigan, peacefully passed away at home on June 13, 2025, at the age of 65, following a battle with cancer. She was born on March 18, 1960, to William Jay and Yvonne (Izzard) McDonald.

Rhonda grew up in Cedarville and graduated from Cedarville High School in 1978. She married Lester Patrick of Pickford, Michigan, and they later moved to Vermont, where she spent most of her adult life. She later married Bernard (Bernie) Miller of Waterville, Vermont, and they were married for 32 years until he passed away following a three-year battle with ALS. She was blessed with two stepchildren, Tracie Hultgren and Daryl Miller as well as Kendra Gudgeon who considered Rhonda a second mother. She also had several dogs throughout her life that were a big part of her family.

Rhonda spent many years working in the accounting field at various places. While in Vermont, she forged
lifetime friendships. Rhonda returned to Cedarville in 2020 to be close to family, where she worked until
retiring in 2023 from the Les Cheneaux Boat Building School. She continued to volunteer at the school helping with events after retiring. She reunited with her former husband, Lester Patrick, in the summer of 2023. They became engaged in 2024 and resided in Cedarville for her remaining days where she received loving care. She loved music and enjoyed listening to Lester and his bandmates.

Rhonda was a member of the Hessel Presbyterian Church. She was part of the team that provided weekly Sunday worship services via zoom to residents at Cedar Cove Assisted Living. She volunteered for special events at Cedar Cove and enjoyed spending time with the residents. Her love and kindness will be remembered by those who knew and loved her. She was a strong supporter of Jenna’s Promise; a recovery center started in memory of her dear friends’ daughter in Vermont.

Rhonda most enjoyed spending time with Lester, her closest friends and her family. She loved camping,
gardening, landscaping her property, watching Tigers Baseball with Lester, and spending time at the beach.

Rhonda is survived by her fiancé, Lester Patrick of Cedarville; brother, Randy McDonald of Cedarville; sisters, Shelley (Jeff) Promo of Hessel, Tracy Reichlin, of Cedarville; cousin, Jodi Izzard of Hessel; step children, Tracie Hultgren and Daryl Miller, both of Vermont; grandchildren, Ava, Calvin, Ainsley, Evelyn, and Calder; sisters-in law, Marilyn Combs, Judy (Gus Forkel), Maureen (Ted Bourgault), Flossie (Gary LeBlanc), brothers- in-law, Patrick Miller (Lynn Campbell), Michael Miller and Danny Miller; niece, Sienna Reichlin (Hunter Lambert), and nephews, Kevin Reichlin, Nathan Smith (Meghan Mitchell), and Dylan McDonald.

Rhonda was preceded in death by her husband, Bernard Miller; parents, William and Yvonne McDonald; and sister, Donna Corrine McDonald.

A Memorial Gathering will be held on Monday, June 23, 2025, from 9:30 – 10:45 A.M. with a Memorial
Service following at 11:00 A.M. at the Hessel Presbyterian Church, 3122 Cedar St. Hessel, MI 49745, with Rev. Jeri Baker conducting the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Cedar Cove Assisted Living at PO Box 580,
Cedarville, MI 49719, Hessel Presbyterian Church at PO Box 301, Hessel, MI 49745 or Jenna’s Promise at
https://jennaspromise.org.