Happy Heavenly Birthday, Dede

She Flew

On June 16th, 1958, a squalling brat moved in with me. I presume this happened, but I wasn’t even a year-old, so only her constant presence in my life confirm this fact.

My sister Cristy Anne (I called her “Dede” so that became her name for life) and I were what we later found out “Irish twins,” which is, of course, points to how many children Irish people used to have. We were born less than a year apart. We may as well have been twins, because I cannot remember a time in my life when she wasn’t there.

Dede and I had our struggles with each other (especially in high school), but by the end of her life she performed so many roles for me: only sister, best-friend, 2nd mother to my children,2nd grandmother to my grandchildren, colleague, comrade, and #1 supporter. When she painfully died from complications due to cancer treatment, I lost more than 1/2 dozen people from my life and it’s been not possible to replace her in any of those roles.

Dede went through the indignities of the cancer industrial complex with stunning courage, and although she was in immense pain at the end, she left us with peace and grace. She never said much towards the end, but one thing she told me was, “Casey is here, he wants me to go with him.” Through tears and sobs, I told her, “It’s okay, you should go with him.” She said, “But, I can’t walk,” so I told her, “but, you can fly, now.” She flew.

To say I miss Dede is to utter a massive understatement.

Dede was an amazing organizer for the peace movement and a dedicated campaigner for social justice, as well.

We all lost a sister when she passed.

Here is the obit I wrote for her:

Dede and Cindy: Tour de Peace, 2013

Cristy Anne “Dede” Miller

Cristy Miller, known to all family and friends as “Dede” joined her parents, Dennis and Shirley Miller and beloved nephew, Casey Austin Sheehan in infinite peace on January 22, 2017, after a protracted illness.

Dede began this life on June 16, 1958 in Inglewood Ca. Shortly thereafter her family relocated to Bellflower CA where Dede loved to play softball and music and graduated from Bellflower High School in the class of 1976.

For 25 years, Dede worked at the Bellflower Kmart as Human Resources manager until she quit to work full-time for the peace and social justice movement after her nephew Casey was killed in Iraq in 2004.

Dede will be remembered for her quick sense of humor and zest for life. She traveled the world with sister Cindy in her quest for peace and remarked “I’ve had a wonderful life” shortly before her transition.

Dede will be missed by many, but especially by those family members that survive her: sister Cindy Sheehan of Vacaville CA; brother Scott Miller of Bellflower CA; brother-in-law Patrick Sheehan of Fairfield CA; niece Carly Sheehan of Novato CA; nephew Andy Sheehan and niece Jane Henry both of Vacaville. In the final two years of her life, Dede found great joy and comfort in her great nieces and nephews: Jonah, Jovie, Jackson, Jillian Henry; and Cohen Sheehan, all of Vacaville. The friends and people she had a positive influence on and touched profoundly in her too short life are too numerous to list.

Dede was in home hospice care for her last days and was surrounded by love, peace, and her beloved family at all times.

Thanks for reading.

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