Sister Amata Miller, IHM, age 93, died Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, surrounded by her loving IHM family.
Sister Amata Miller began life as Alice Rose Miller on Nov. 30, 1932, daughter of John and Ruth (Munson) Miller of Detroit, Michigan. She attended Hally Elementary School in Detroit and then Immaculata High School, staffed by the IHM Sisters.
After graduation, she entered the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Monroe) and received the religious name, Sister Amata. She began her teaching ministry at Christ the King and Our Lady of Good Counsel in Detroit, and at Holy Name in Birmingham.
Sister Amata was a gifted student, and the IHM community supported her in earning a bachelor’s degree from Marygrove College, a master’s degree in economics from St. Louis University and a doctorate in economics from the University of California, Berkeley.
As a well-regarded professional in the field of economics, Sister Amata spent many years as professor of economics at Marygrove College, St. Edward’s University, Austin, and the College of St. Catherine, St. Paul. At Network in Washington, D.C., she led social justice work through education as a staff economist and education coordinator. With her vast experience, she was a consultant to business and government throughout the United States and was an early proponent of utilizing stock options to challenge work practices of corporations. She was dedicated to the IHM community and served in congregational stewardship for over ten years as the coordinator of material resources.
In 2022, Sister Amata moved home to Monroe. As a resident of the Motherhouse, her commitment to the liberating mission of Jesus was lived through her “sole ministry” of prayer, dedicated to justice for people and situations around the world, especially those who suffered oppression.
Sister Amata is survived by her sister Mary L. Miller and her IHM Sisters in community. She was preceded in death by her brother, John R., and her sister, Anne Heilman.
Read Sister Amata’s Remembering.