Deborah Miller

Deborah Lee Miller, 69, of Bergenfield, NJ, passed away peacefully on August 16, 2023, after a lengthy illness. She was born in Teaneck, NJ on September 1, 1953, to Dorothy G. (Davison) Miller of Lancaster, PA and the late Henry T. Miller, Jr.

Debbie is also survived by: her beloved longtime companion, Armen Mzrakian; her loving sisters, Donna V. Miller, Marilyn H. Byrne, and Maureen M. Putnam; her caring brother-in-law, Christopher A. Putnam; her four dear nieces, Megan P. Byrne, Molly E. Byrne, Emily D. Putnam, and Catherine M. Putnam; her loving aunt and godmother, Marilyn B. Ambrose; numerous, treasured cousins, and her lifelong friend, Carol Petite.

In addition to her father, Debbie is predeceased by: her maternal grandparents, Dorothy V. Davison and Edward T. Davison, Sr; her paternal grandparents, Helen B. Miller and Henry T. Miller, Sr; and her godfather, Walter B. Miller, as well as several other loving aunts and uncles.

As a lifelong parishioner of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, she was also blessed to be godmother to several children of family and friends.

Debbie attended St. John’s School before graduating from St. Cecilia High School in Englewood, NJ. In 1975, she received her B.S. degree in Medical Technology from Caldwell College, Caldwell, NJ, after which she was employed at Holy Name Hospital in Teaneck, NJ as a supervisor in the laboratory. At this time, she was also notified of being listed in the latest edition of Who’s Who of American Women.

While working at Holy Name, Debbie started taking evening classes at St. John’s University in Jamaica, NY, where she earned her M.S. degree in Healthcare Administration. She was then offered the position of Director of Marketing for ClinPath, a new laboratory in Hackensack, NJ, where she would work for about two years.

In 1985, Debbie joined the Franciscan Health System of NJ as Lab Manager at St. Francis Hospital. Then in 1989, she was promoted to Corporate Director of Laboratories for St. Francis Hospital and Christ Hospital in Jersey City, as well as St. Mary Hospital in Hoboken, NJ. These hospitals eventually joined the Bon Secours Health System. In 2007, a portion of that system became Hoboken University Medical Center, and Debbie became their Executive Director of Laboratories.

As a young woman, Debbie loved to travel with her friends. They especially enjoyed their cruises and trips to Hawaii and Ireland. Later, Debbie traveled with Armen to Aruba, Spain, and even Tanzania for an exciting safari. They were both looking forward to many more trips with each other.

Debbie also loved family history and spent long hours searching archives to put the puzzle of her ancestry together. She and Armen took numerous trips out of state to explore historical societies, libraries, and other genealogical sites.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (www.theaftd.org).