Obituary of Savina Alicia Miller

"Savina was a joyful spirit and loved to dance. The family has asked that you help Celebrate her ascent to heaven by wearing RED to the services. Also, kindly bring any printed photos you may be willing to part with and email any digital images, notes, etcetera to: InLovingMemorySavina1027@gmail.com by 10:00 PM on Thursday 12/10 Lastly, for anyone who cannot attend the services on Friday, they will be able to join via a Zoom link posted on her web page. Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88128647942?pwd=TkZ6SHZyODVyWnZmY0ZLeXpPek9Vdz09 Meeting ID: 789 098 1096 Passcode: XgYba1 On October 27th, 1949, in a remote coastal village in Central America, was born a child destined to create a new legacy for her family. Savina Alicia Miller, at the tender age of six had already mastered rudimentary accounting. It didn’t matter that her mom, Rosa Bermudez had only a sixth-grade education. Savina saved up her lempiras working alongside her uncle Angel, until she secretly amassed enough money to attend school in the city. Upon graduating la escuela secundaria, Alicia as her family referred to her, followed her father to the United States. Although married to her childhood sweetheart, grandpa Diego Martinez was annoyed that his daughter would have the audacity to become pregnant and shipped Alicia back to Honduras to deliver the baby. Armed with more ambition than ever before, Alicia left newborn Delcy to be raised by her sister Florinda, while she worked tirelessly in a factory job until she could save enough money to return to Honduras and bring her daughter back to the U.S. By that time, Alicia had already purchased a home in Wyandanch, New York with new husband Howard Miller, to whom she was devoted throughout their 32-year marriage. She was beginning to live the American Dream, though never forgetting her humble beginnings. Over time, Alicia brought one sister over, then another, and later her brother, and nephew, and niece, and best friend’s cousin, until she had brought over enough family members to fill a small city, so that each one in turn could support their own families. All the while, Alicia managed to raise her own four children on a shoestring budget. Having amassed enough money to purchase a beater car, Savina would make her weekly escape from suburbia to the city lights and sweeping landscape of the Bronx, where the weekend dance parties were too much for the passionate dancer to resist. Oh how she loved to dance merengue, bachata, and punta, two left feet notwithstanding. Much to the chagrin of her adult children, it would be a tradition lasting well into her late sixties; this zest for life spilled over into everything she did. To understand love, you could observe how Savina gave it unconditionally to her family, especially her beloved sisters Narcissa and Florinda, with whom she was always tied at the hip. To comprehend faith was to note that Savina followed her pastor for 63 miles when he founded his own church, because he was the messenger through whom she built her foundation in Christ. To experience joy was to surround yourself in Savina’s energy—her presence always lit up a room. Cousin Gert summarized Mom’s life the best: When I think of your mom, I think of someone who lived life exactly as it should be. She saw light in everything she experienced. Her laughter, her smile, and her infinite positivity brought so much joy to my life and the life of so many others. When I think of her, I can't help but bear an enormous grin, her dancing, her laughter, her infectious smile and just her presence. She brought a sense of simplicity and no-worries attitude to life that would lift anyone's spirit. To say she will be missed feels sadly inadequate. I love her always and thank her for being part of my life. Savina is survived by siblings Narcissa, Florinda, Diego, Albaro, and Pantaleona, five children: Delcy, Andre, Alex, Alicia, and bonus son/nephew Anthony, five grandchildren: Josephine, Julyssa, Nyrel, Niara, and Joshua, an extended family of nieces and nephews, and sole 86-year's old aunt Teodosa. Her loving, generous spirit and kindness will be missed by all.