Thomas Millen

Tom Passed away on Friday September 19, 2014.

There will be calling hours at the funeral home on Tuesday from 6 to 8 in the evening. There will be a funeral mass on Wednesday at 11 AM at All Saints Catholic Church.

Thomas Harold Millen was 85 years old when he passed on September 19^th, 2014. He was the husband of Janet Millen whom he found easy to love for 58 years. He was the father of 9 children, grandfather of 23 and great-grandfather of 5. He was also one of eleven children. Tom was a Vietnam Veteran and a retired Commander of the United States Navy, where he proudly served for 26 years.

He showed his love through the time he spent with others, but he didn’t enjoy “wasting time” so what may have seemed like a chore or project was his way of showing he cares.

He was always welcoming and wanted to open his home to everyone. Whether it was Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter or just a casual visit, he always had a fresh bed and a personalized sign to make you feel right at home.

He lived by a strict desert first policy and like to be called “Tom Terrific”.  He love icecream and peanut M&M’s.

He was always willing to lend a tool, unless you were going to break it or lose it, which happened suspiciously often.

Due to the fact that Tom battled cancer off and on for 20 years he spent a lot of time at the cancer center. It was common knowledge that he put a smile on everyone’s face and the nurses knew him on a first name basis. Although he himself was battling cancer he always took the time to introduce himself to those that he could tell were scared and newly diagnosed. After sharing his story and love with them he would always leave them less scared and more confident in their treatment. Tom and his late wife Janet were committed Hospice volunteers; they would sit with patients so they weren’t alone in their last moments of life.

He and his wife Janet demonstrated a passionate love for each other that gave their children a shining example of the lifelong commitment of true love and inspires all to love more deeply. Tom was also devoted to his brothers and sisters and loved to spend time with each of them. 

He was an authentic friend. He cared for his friends as if they were family keeping close contact and enjoying their company as a part of his weekly routine. His friends were his guardian angles.  Tom enjoyed personal connections and would even go as far as looking up information that related to someone’s likes or background in order to share in their enjoyments and life.

What was once called the “Man Cave”, his favorite spot to spend his down time had to be changed to “The Smoking Emporium” due to the influential number of women in his life. As a lover of cigars and people he enjoyed sharing stories and making memories with everyone that passed by, whether it was the gardener, garbage men, family, friends or neighbors.

Words that those who loved him would use to describe him: Self-less, welcoming, inspirational, passionate, hardworking, dedicated, fighter, sailor, submariner, poet, teacher, inventor, leader, coach, engineer, mechanic, gardener, guide, dry comedian, Eeyore, excusable grump, chocolate fanatic, breakfast short order cook, husband, lover, brother, dad, grandpa, great-grandpa, friend.

After his passing his family found a devotional prayer card on the fridge with two paragraphs marked off. In his handwriting he wrote “Why I do what I do”. This is what it wrote:

“There is work still waiting for you, So you must not idly stand;

Do it now, while life remaineth- You shall rest in Jesus’ land.

When that work is all completed, He will gently call you home;

Oh, the rapture of that meeting, Oh the joy to see you come!”

For those that wish, please make donations in his name to the Covenant House Florida, PO Box 39282, Ft. Launderdale, Fl. 33339-9282 .  This charity is dedicated to homeless and runaway children.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Thomas Millen, please visit our floral store.