On Oct. 1, our loving mother, grandmother, wife, sister, and friend, Loretta Mae Miller (nee McNeal), died peacefully, surrounded by her family.
Loretta grew up in Shellsville and graduated from Lower Dauphin High School, where she made some great lifelong friendships. Loretta was nicknamed Bert at a young age for reasons lost to time (and it should be said she was a good sport about it). She grew up in a tight-knit sibling group who grew even closer following the tragic early deaths of their parents, a pair Loretta always said, “loved each other so much and didn’t have enough time together.”
Loretta was a hard-working and resourceful mom who raised her two sons in the Elizabethtown area. When she married Gale Miller, she found her life partner and gained a beloved daughter and son-in-law. Gale and Loretta enjoyed watching their children and grandchildren grow, and the couple spent several fun years in their RV, camping at Red Run Campground, visiting her son, Tony, in Wisconsin and California, and enjoying the beautiful landscapes of Central Pennsylvania. Following Gale’s tragic death, Loretta moved to Ephrata to be closer to her son, Todd, and daughter-in-law, Jessica, and their children. In her new home, Loretta continued long, daily chats with friends and family, even making new friends despite mobility and health challenges, to the point she was heartened to have very numerous visitors during her final days.
Loretta’s family would like to thank the health care providers at Maple Farm Nursing Center. She will be greatly missed by her sons, Todd (Jessica) Bitner and Tony (Claire) Bitner; step-daughter, Kim (Andy) Shearer; grandchildren, Logan, Avery, and Cameron Bitner, Andrea and Kristina Shearer, and Eliza and Graham Bitner; siblings, Bob (Carolyn), Dennis, Diane (Don); her Bitner and Miller family; and nieces, nephews, cousins, and many good friends.
In death, Loretta is reunited with Gale, parents, and sisters, Barb and Lorraine. It is also comforting that the loyal, loving twin sisters, Loretta Mae and Lorraine Fae, will now be together again.
Mom, Nanny, Grandma, Loretta, Bert: We will fondly remember your thoughtful gifts for every holiday, and we will think of you when we take a moment to “nose around” a gift shop, complete a word-search puzzle, wash our clothes with Tide (it works the best), cook a delicious lasagna for friends and family, or enjoy a Masterpiece Theater classic on PBS. We love you.
Funeral services will be held at 9:15 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025, at the Kreamer & Lum Funeral Home & Crematory, Jonestown. There will be a viewing beginning at 8:30 a.m. until the start of the service. Interment will follow at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery.
While Loretta did love flowers, her family requests that any memorials in her honor be made to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.
