Mrs. Janice M Miles

On November 20, 2023, Janice May Miles, 82 of Greenville, NC passed away quietly in her sleep. Born May 1941 to Levi Arthur and Mary Eliza Gabert in Weston, VT. The second of two children. Her brother Joe was 4 years older than her. As was typical of the times, her family worked hard to raise their own food. Her mother would fill in by doing some housework from time to time when she wasn’t busy taking care of the house and kids. She never got her license to drive so walking was the way to get there. Levi tended the garden and worked in the local mill. There were outings from time to time to Tinmouth, VT to see the grandparents. She was born in the decade called “The War Years”. A very depressed time. Being just a young girl at the time she was not aware of the strife affecting the world. World War II. Life was lived as simply as possible. People often married at a younger age. So, it was for Janice. At just 16 her first marriage produced a daughter, Cheryl (Johnson) Howard. Within just a few short years, 1962, she was divorced. Both she and Cheryl would live with Mary and Levi for a short time. Within the same year she met and married again to Herb LaMears Sr. Moving to Alstead, NH. They had three sons. Herb Jr., Scott James, and Lewis Paul. Life was still a struggle. She worked housekeeping for other people, as a crossing guard, and cook for the school in Alstead, NH. She was very involved with the Alstead Food Shelf. She would help anyone she could. Being the hard worker that she was she obtained her CNA license late in life and worked at a nearby nursing home while providing home health care for her disabled husband. In this time the family all participated in raising chickens, rabbits, goats, and pigs. Along with making maple syrup and cutting firewood as a family group. There was always attention needed in the large garden that provided the vegetables that would be canned or frozen. As if that was not keeping her busy enough, she ran a licensed Alpine goat breeding business named Darby Brook Alpines. She made cheese and did all the milking herself. The goats were a labor of love. All the while accompanied by her faithful beagle Roy. Trips were a rare adventure for such a busy family just trying to survive. There were some camping trips to a cabin in VT without electricity with a hand pump for water where cards were played by the light of a lantern. She would take us fishing to various places nearby, and swimming in the Cold River. Santas Village and Benson animal park visits as well. Holidays were always spent with the family and hosted by her parents until the time came that her mother could no longer manage. Then Janice became host. After her father passed in 1986 her mother was living closer to Janice, having moved from VT to NH. In 1996, after the passing of her husband Herb Sr., Janice moved to Charlestown, NH for a short period. She was very proud of her ability to buy her own trailer, which was destroyed when the Connecticut river flooded the area due to an ice jam. She met and married her current husband, Lewis Miles. They moved back to Alstead to be closer to her mother. Around 1998 Janice, Lewis, and Mom, (Mary) moved to NC to be closer to son Herb Jr., and to be in a warmer climate, which would be easier for her elderly mother. As her mother aged Janice was a full-time caregiver to her mother, who passed in 2000. Janice continued to attend church, babysit, and raise a garden until it was no longer possible. Janice was predeceased by both her mother, father, brother, and ex-husband Herb LaMears Sr. She is survived by her husband Lewis Miles. Daughter, Cheryl (LaMears) Howard and husband Denny Howard, granddaughter Sarah (Cannon) Woodman and her husband Wayne Woodman, granddaughter Laura Cannon and her partner Chris Rullo, great-granddaughter Jada Cannon, great-granddaughter Lia Rullo. Son, Herb LaMears Jr and wife Michelle LaMears, granddaughter Colleen Long, grandson Timothy Long, grandson Nicholas LaMears. Son, Scott LaMears, and wife Laura LaMears. Son, Lewis LaMears and wife Jennifer LaMears, grandson Dylan LaMears, granddaughter Ariel LaMears. There will be a private service in North Carolina. There will be a public graveside service in Alstead, NH at Pine Grove Cemetery tentatively set for June 9, 2024. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to St Jude.

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Mrs. Janice M Miles

April 27, 1941 - November 20, 2023