Obituary

Laura Renee Miltenberger, (aka Milt, Lolli, Cheese, Poof, Eener, Rex, Nutsky), 43, peacefully transitioned from this realm on December 1, 2024, with family at her side.  She was born in Johnstown, on July 21,1981. Preceded in death by beloved mother Ellen (Blough) Miltenberger; paternal grandparents, Edward and Mary Helen (Gouchnour) Miltenberger; maternal grandparents, Newton and Elizabeth (Berzinsky) Blough; paternal aunts Leila Patrica (Miltenberger) Herren. Survived by father, David E. Miltenberger; sisters Lisa and Brenda Miltenberger; paternal aunt Deborah (Robert) Matera, uncle Alan Miltenberger; maternal uncle Gary (Jayni) Blough, aunt Rita (John) Purnell; lifelong friend Maria Maharowski; platonic “wyfe” Laura Kelley; many cousins; and innumerable cherished friends that she made everywhere that she went. Last but certainly not least she leaves behind her treasured 8 kitties who will remain together and cared for by their “aunts.” Laura was a 2000 graduate of Bishop McCort High School and graduated summa cum laude in 2007 with a BS in Education from IUP, where she was a sister of  Alpha Sigma Tau and beloved Sweetheart of Phi Psi fraternity. Laura spent many years attending Camp Sequanota and was formerly a member of First Lutheran Church. Laura served proudly with the Pennsylvania Army National Guard (Echo Company 1/104^th ARB) with active-duty deployments to Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan and was honorably discharged in 2016.  She was a member of Jerome Legion Post 802. Laura so dearly loved her family, friends, and her fellow soldiers.  Laura had an amazing sense of humor with wit that would bring smiles and laughter to all those around her, and she rarely went anywhere without a bag of props to add to the fun. Laura always cared for the most vulnerable of us and the best way to honor her memory would be to live a life of kindness and service to others. Her family would like to extend their deepest gratitude to the cancer specialists at UPMC – Dr. Drappatz and Dr Sbeitan and their respective teams, Ileana Blackburn who fiercely advocated for her, the VA who made sure she had everything she needed and more,  the special care givers she had over the past six months that surrounded her with love and comfort as her condition declined  – Robert Chippie, CRNP with Windber Palliative, Terri Dovey, the nurses and aides from the West Wing of Arbutus, Rachel Allen, her Aunt Jayni that stepped in to fill the void left by her mother, and lastly, to the staff at Windber Inpatient Hospice Unit that were so very wonderful to the family and friends that came to visit and diligently ensured her comfort until the very end. Donations can be made in Laura’s honor to Pennsylvania American Legion Housing for Homeless Veterans Corporation, American Legion Department Headquarters, 800 North Front St., Wormleysburg, PA 17043, or Nardecchia Spay/Neuter Fund,131 Damian Dr., Johnstown, PA 15905. Arrangements in care of Hindman Funeral Homes & Crematory, Inc., “Exclusive Provider of Veterans and Family Memorial Care.” Condolences may be made at HindmanFuneralHomes.com.