In Remembrance of Barbara's Mom, Miriam Tillman

Miriam Evelyn Tillman, died peacefully at her home on December 11, 2015. She was born in Orange, NJ on June 21, 1933 to William and Cecelia (Conlon) Hedden. She grew up in Millburn, NJ and the Vailsburg section of Newark with her brothers James and William. On February 20, 1960 Miriam married Alfred J. Tillman, and they remained devoted to each other for 55 wonderful years.  

Miriam graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Douglas College (now Rutgers) in 1955. She taught at Vernon L. Davey Junior High School in East Orange, NJ.

Following their wedding, she and Al moved to Mt. Tabor, NJ where she continued teaching until she paused to raise children. She became president of both the Women's and Garden Clubs of Mt. Tabor and co-founded the Mt. Tabor Nursery School. She and Al built a vacation home at Beebe Pond in Vermont. In 1974 the family moved to North Granby, CT where Miriam remained active teaching. Then in 1977 the family moved to Orchard Park, NY where she focused her career on early childhood education. The family moved to Temple Terrace, FL in 1984 where she became a pre-school director. Upon retiring, she and Al sold their home and bought an RV, in which they lived full-time for six and a half years, traveling extensively throughout the country until finally settling in Vero Beach, FL in 2003. 

Miriam loved skiing, hiking, boating, birding, and traveling and was particularly adept at developing travel itineraries, including a summer-long excursion with friends through Europe in 1956. Her artistic flair was revealed in gardening, flower arranging, cooking, sewing, quilting, and photography. She served in the various roles in the churches she attended and later participated in Community Bible Study. But most of all, Miriam was filled with love for her best friend, Al, and the rest of her family and friends.  

She's survived by her husband Alfred Tillman, her daughter Barbara Ruh and husband Bill, her son Edward, and her other son Ronald and wife Sue. In addition she leaves behind four grandchildren—Kate and Carrie Ruh, and Sean and Ashley Tillman—and also her brother Jim. A private memorial service will be held for her on December 27, 2015.