IN MEMORIAM: Alma Millen, 83;
Former Teacher, Mother Of Two
COOPERSTOWN – Alma Millen,83, a former teacher who raised two children as a long-time resident of Cooperstown, passed away in Chantilly, Va., on Sunday, April 2, 2017.
The daughter of Danish immigrants Peter and Karen Ottzen, she was born Sept. 14, 1933, in Perth Amboy, N.J., and lived in Tottenville (Staten Island) for several years before her family relocated to Otsego County.
Alma was a proud part of the Ottzen musical and artistic traditions, playing concert harp in her youth, designing jewelry, and bringing old furniture and jewelry back to life with her talent for restoration.
A graduate of SUNY Oneonta with an M.S. in education, in 1964 she married James W. Millen in Christ Episcopal Church’s St. Agnes Chapel, Cooperstown.
She taught early elementary students at several schools in Upstate New York before she became a mother, and taught several summers in a pre-elementary school program at CCS while raising their two children.
A familiar and friendly face seen about in many flea markets and antique shops throughout the area, Alma also worked for many years as a court attendant of the Otsego County Courthouse and volunteered time at the Susquehanna Animal Shelter Thrift Shop.
Alma was predeceased by her husband on March 6, 2000, but is survived by her two brothers and their wives: Peter and Lynn Ottzen of Otego and Lorentz and Beverly Ottzen of Santa Rosa Beach, Fla..
She is also survived by her children and their spouses: Anne Margaret Millen-Martini and her husband Lorenzo Martini of Herndon Va., Peter Hayes Millen and his wife Barbara Levick Millen of Chicago Ill., cousins, and nieces and nephews from both sides of the family.
According to her wishes there will be no formal services and, in lieu of flowers, Alma’s family suggests that memorial donations may be directed to Susquehanna Animal Shelter, 4841 NY-28, Cooperstown NY 13326 or Catskill Area Hospice and Palliative Care, One Birchwood Drive, Oneonta, NY 13820
