I have put together this page as a memorial to my grandmother.  I realize a lot of people may not understand, or like what I am  doing, but this is my way of showing everyone what a wonderful woman she truly was.  If I have learned anything from my grandmother, it is to enjoy life to its fullest, no matter how hard the chips may be falling.  She  led such a difficult life, yet she never let it show.  She was always there with a smile, a hug, or something she had made to cheer you up.

Taken during a friends wedding in which she was a bridesmaid--1942

Taken shortly after the birth of her 5th child--1954

Dorothy Mae Shaw Miles

 12/23/20 to 05/24/98

 Beloved wife  to: Edward Andrew Breier (RIP) and Nelson Appleton Miles (RIP)

Mother to: Edward Breier (RIP died at 6 months), Patricia Breier (RIP died at 6 months), Marianne Miles Leal, James Robert Miles and Nelson  Michael Miles

 Grandmother to:  Carlos Nelson Leal, Maria Teresa Leal Peterson, Kaitlyn Marie Miles and Shawna Marie Miles

 Great Grandmother to: Kristin Michele Peterson, Rebekah JaeAnne Peterson and Michael Andrew Peterson, Maeghan Elise Peterson and Alexander Dean Leal

And friend to all who knew her.

On May 24th, 1998, I lost my only remaining grandmother.  I was with her, holding her hand, and looking at her beautiful face when she went to heaven.  This is a wonderful miracle that will never be forgotten.
 I will forever miss this incredible woman, who did so much for me and my family.  She did me the  most wonderful honor of hand making my wedding dress~ the most precious gift I have ever received.
 A series of strokes and years of unexplained pain came to an end on a Sunday morning at 9am.  I know she  is in a better place with no pain and making everything better for everyone she knows.

Rest in peace Grandma, you have waited for this for so long.  You will be in my heart always. --Maria 

When my Grandma left this world she had three grandchildren and three great grandchildren.  Since her death, she has another great-grandaughter, named after her, a great-grandson and a grandchild, also named after her.  All of these precious children will always have an angel looking out for them.

Grandma with her 1st great grandchild, Kristin Michele Peterson--taken in March of '93

Grandma with her 2nd granddaughter, Kaitlyn Marie Miles--taken a few months before her death

Misc. Pictures

My favorite picture of grandmother and my mother--taken in 1987

Picture taken at a surprise baby shower given to me by my grandmother in 1992.  L to R:  Mike Miles (grandma's son), my grandmother, Adam, Bernadette (Mike's wife), and me (7 months pregnant with Kristin--grandma's 1st great grandchild)

Updates

On October 11, 1999, all of our family gathered together to scatter the ashes of my grandmother.  We all drove to Corpus Christi, TX, chartered two sail boats and sailed out to Laguna Madre to scatter her ashes.  We each took turns scattering (as well as the kids) and we then took turns tossing 1 rose into the Bay.  It was a  beautiful ceremony.  Our plans are to return the first weekend of every October and toss 1 rose for everyone in the family around the same location that we scattered her ashes.  We love her and miss her very much!! 

Mike (grandma's son, Bernadette, grandma's daughter-in-law, and Kaitlyn Marie (grandma's youngest grandaughter) scattering her ashes.

Left front to right-- Tino Leal, Marianne Leal, Maria Peterson, Kristin Peterson, Carlos Leal, Alice Leal, Bernadette Miles, Kaitlyn Miles, Mike Miles

Rebekah enjoying the ocean breeze....

Mike and Kaitlyn

Rebekah (back) and Kaitlyn (front)...2nd cousins that look like twins!!

Kaitlyn getting ready for sailing.

October 6-8, 2000

On the first weekend in October 2000, we all set out for another visit and sail  boat ride to remember my Grandmother.  The day before we were to set sail, a freak cold front came through the Corpus Christi cancelling our trip.  The high the day of the sail was in the 50's with a northerly wind  blowing~~very odd for October.  We did stay for the entire weekend and all had a good time, vowing to return again in 2001, and hoping for warmer weather.  Check back with us then for photos.

October 5-8, 2001

Bernadette & Shawna Marie Miles (Dorothy's 3rd grand-daughter, 1 year old)

My family--Michael, Rebekah, Adam, Maeghan and Kristin--beach bound

I just love this photo--Kaitlyn Marie Miles (Dorothy's 2nd grand-daughter and Mike Miles (Dorothy's 2nd son)

Boarding one of the sailboats we took that day.

Adam and Maeghan (Dorothy's 3rd great-grandaughter) sailing

Carlos (Dorothy's grandson) and Alexander (Dorothy's 2nd Great-grandson

Adam and Maeghan below deck--it was chilly outside!

More photo's of the other sailboat

Going under the bridge

Captain Roger and Mike comtemplating sea life

Bird life taken before roses were thrown

Ready to release the roses--Kristin (Dorothy's 1st great grand-daughter), Michael (1st Great-Grandson), Kaitlyn (2nd grand-daughter), and Rebekah (2nd great-grand-daughter

Each rose was color coordinated depending on the role each person took in Grandma's life

Roses in the water

Bridge crossing Laguna Madre

Footnote:  Each year, for the last 3 years, our family has traveled to Corpus to remember my grandmother.  Each year we stop and wonder if she is looking down at us from heaven and watching over us as we go about our life.  Each year when we go to Corpus, something odd continues to happen to make us aware that  she is around.  Some people do not believe in signs, however, our family is very much aware of them since my grandmothers passing.  This year, although sad due to the NYC and Washington disasters, we found a bright  wonderful sign amidst the retaliation we took on Afganistan this weekend.  This day began cold and very cloudy.  We wondered if it would be a repeat of last year and if we would even be able to sail.  When we got the all clear from our captains, we set out wishing for only a brief moment of sun.  As the day went by, the sun refused to shine and the wind continued to blow.  When we docked to read my Grandmothers favorite passage and  throw the roses, the wind died and shortly after the roses were thrown, the clouds parted and the sun came out.  It was amazing...as if that wasn't enough, swimming very close to our boats was a single dolphin who made a brief  appearance to play in the water.  We all stood back and watched knowing once again that Dorothy was with us.  We pulled the anchors back in the water and took off for home.  As we did this, the sun went back behind  the clouds and the wind picked back up.  We never saw the sun again that day.  We love you and miss you Grandma, until next year......

October 4-6, 2002

feeding the Gulls Saturday morning...the storm blowing in...

Alexander and Maeghan running from the water

Mimi & Papa and the “babies” open their gifts

Alexander and Maeghan head to the condo

Michael builds in the sand

Bekah and Kristin building

Maeghan has had enough

Bekah buried in the sand

The Leal Family

Economic times hit all of us pretty hard this trip. We decided to forego the sailing trip and spend a lot of time on the beaches.  The “sign” this weekend?? Well the weather was forecast to be beautiful and warm all weekend.  It was, except for Saturday morning (the morning we would have usually taken our sail). The sky clouded over and a it got very windy.  A storm rolled in for about 2 hours and then cleared out.  The weathermen never forecasted this to happen. Maybe there really are holes in the floor of heaven....until next year.....

October 10-12, 2003

Our sign this year....well, let’s just say it’s best to keep quiet about it. But I will say that two members of this family unknowingly asked Dorothy for her help with something and one 2 1/2 weeks after our trip to Corpus, it happened. There really is hope with prayer!