Kathleen Marie (Swiggard) Millar, (89), of Ocean City, New Jersey entered eternal life on April 19, 2021.
“Kate,” as she was affectionately known by her family, was born in Philadelphia, the daughter of James and Marie (Esmond) Swiggard. She attended Saint Athanasius Elementary School, Little Flower High School and Moore College of Art. Kate worked for the Bell Telephone Company of Pennsylvania for eight years in the financial department before marrying the love of her life, Bill Millar. Together they had eight children, twenty grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Bill predeceased Kate in 1994. Kate was a member of Saint Frances Cabrini Parish for 49 years (now known as Saint Damien Parish). Other than her family, the Church was the center of Kate’s life; she was intimately involved with the running of the Parish and was always a great supporter to the pastor. Kate taught religious education, mentored the altar servers for 30 years, and served as a Eucharistic minister. She was a member of the Altar and Rosary Societies, The Legion of Mary, The Medjugorje Rosary group, and the Parish Hospitality Committee. She initiated the Sunday coffee and donuts gathering at the Parish. Kate was also a member of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority.
Kate was a beloved and loving wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, in-law, and friend. She loved saying the Rosary with her friends followed by lunch at the Crab Trap where she always ordered the potato-crusted salmon. She couldn’t walk by a baby without stopping to say hello. She was an accomplished seamstress and made her own bridal gown (which became baptismal garments for her children), bridal gowns and bridesmaids’ dresses for her children’s weddings, and First Communion dresses for her granddaughters. Many other brides and bridesmaids benefited from her tailoring skills. She attended every crew race, grandchild birth, First Communion, graduation and wedding for all of her many beloved children and grandchildren. She was truly loving and loved, and will be missed dearly.
She was predeceased by her brother James Swiggard, her brother- and sister-in-law Ed and Marie Rieser, her brother- and sister-in-law Robert and Mary Lou Millar, and brothers-in-law Tom and John Millar.
Kate is survived by her eight children: Bill and Virginia (Unsworth) Millar, Jim and Kim (Hutchins) Millar, John and Kathie (Millar) McCann, Drew and Julie (Rothwell) Millar, Therese Millar, Tom Millar and Eunice Ahn, John Millar, Michael and Rosemary (Donahue) Millar.
She is also survived by her grandchildren: Elizabeth (Jeremy), William, Matthew (Christine), Sarah, Anne, Adam, Myra, Sean, Mary, Rory, Kathleen, Mi-Sun, Molly, Maggie, David, Jonathan, Rebecca, Daniel, Liam and Bridget, and two great-grandchildren: Finn and Malcolm.
She is also survived by her brother and his wife, Jack and Renee Swiggard, and brothers- and sisters-in-law Bill and Margaret Zeiss, Eileen Millar, Mary Millar, Vivian Swiggard, and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews.
A funeral Mass was held on Thursday, April 22 at St. Frances Cabrini Church, 114 Atlantic Avenue in Ocean City. A viewing was at 8:30am, followed by the 10am Mass. A private burial will occur at a later date.
Donations may be made to the Boys Crew Association, PO Box 3051, Margate, NJ 08402.
Arrangements by Reilly Rakowski Malloy Funeral Homes.
