Donna A. Miller, 83

Donna Ann (Goodwin Blanchard) Miller began her heavenly journey on the evening of April 25, 2025, at the age of 83, peacefully surrounded by the love of family and friends.

A lifelong New Hampshire native, Donna was born in Laconia on March 16, 1942, the beloved daughter of Ernest F. and Madelyn Sinclair Goodwin. She graduated from Laconia High School in 1960, where she joyfully balanced her days between cheerleading and playing the clarinet. Her innate compassion and drive to care for others led her to Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital’s School of Nursing in Hanover, where she graduated in 1963 as a registered nurse and later became an instructor to first-year students.

In 1963, Donna married her middle school sweetheart, Raymond T. Blanchard of Laconia. Together, they built a loving home in Swanzey Center, raised two children, and founded Blanchard’s Butcher Block in 1974. After Ray’s passing in 1978, Donna carried on with remarkable strength, determination, and grace — managing the family business and, more importantly, providing a deeply loving and stable life for her children.

As Donna often said, “When a door closes, a window opens.” In 1979, she found that open window in the form of true love when she married Shelby “Dutch” Miller. Their 38 years together were filled with unwavering devotion, faith and adventure. Their family was their greatest gift and together they raised five children. Dutch’s work took them to new cities for months at a time, where they made lifelong friends and deepened their shared love of spirituality and church life. When home they found their community at the United Church of Christ in Keene, spending many cherished hours with beloved friends, giving back leading devotion groups and Donna’s most cherished times with her Loaf & Ladle friends making soups and breads for those in need.

Donna was that kind of woman — the heart of her home and the anchor of her family. She was a devoted and supportive wife, mother, Grandy, sister, and friend. Her home was her haven: the joyful center of family gatherings, Christmas magic, and Easter egg hunts crafted with tender care and creativity. She cheered from bleachers, mowed her own lawns, tended bees and gardens, canned homemade spaghetti sauce and salsa (family favorites), baked apple pies and loved nothing more than spending time with those she cherished.

York Beach, Maine, held a sacred place in Donna’s heart. It was where five generations of her family made summer memories — from her own childhood days of wave riding with her father and cousins, to teaching her grandchildren the same simple joy.

Adventurous in spirit, Donna’s life was as full as it was grounded. She ice-fished and waterskied on Lake Winnipesaukee, learned to ride a motorcycle at age 60, skied Mount Sunapee well into her 70s and, in retirement, roamed the country and Canada with Dutch and their camper — exploring National Parks and even trying her hand at dude ranching.

Even after Dutch’s passing, Donna continued to embrace life with joy. In her last years, she found heartfelt companionship with Charles “Chuck” Prigge. Together, they shared quiet happiness — daily YMCA workouts, peaceful moments on the docks of Spofford Yacht Club, long meandering car rides and, always, laughter — cherished even when words began to fade.

Donna is lovingly remembered by her children, Robin (Blanchard) Laughinghouse (partner Ross Gott) of New London, Eric Blanchard (partner Robin Hooper) of Alstead, Shelly (Miller) Kernozicky (husband Randy) of Keene, Richard Miller (wife Julie) of Weston, Massachusetts, and Naples, Florida; her brother, Ernie Goodwin (wife Jane) of Laconia; and her dear companion, Charles “Chuck” Prigge of Keene. She adored her “magnificent eight” grandchildren: Kaanan Kain of Keene; Chelsey Laughinghouse (husband Adrian Whitcomb) of Sunapee; Casey Laughinghouse of Somerville, Massachusetts; Thoreau Blanchard of Alstead; Jordan Kernozicky (partner Mackenzie Posner) of Gilsum; Katie Miller of Weston, Massachusetts; Ryan Miller of Cambridge, Massachusetts; Andrew Miller (wife Tory) of Lynchburg, Virginia. Her joy multiplied with the birth of her great-grandchild, Kai Whitcomb.

In her final chapter, Donna found deep love and care at Woodcrest Village Assisted Living in New London. During her last 18 months in the Courtyard Memory Care community there, she gained another “family” — those who made her feel safe, cherished, and loved. The family will remain forever grateful for their compassion.

A remembrance and celebration of life will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 23 (formal remarks at 1:15 p.m.) at Stonewall Farm in Keene.

In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations in Donna Miller’s memory to: Woodcrest Village Assisted Living, 356 Main St., New London, NH 03257.