James Hilary Millea

1925 - 2019

HARTWICK - James Hilary Millea, 93, of Hartwick, died Saturday morning, November 9, 2019, at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown.

He was born December 29, 1925, in Rolfe, Iowa, the eldest of 11 children – including three sets of twins – of Joseph Hilary Millea and Margaret Lillian née Flaherty Millea. Raised in Iowa, he attended school up to the 11th grade, when at the age of 17 he left school, worked briefly on the railroad, then enlisted in the United States Navy on July 17, 1943. He proudly served his country during World War II as a Gunner’s Mate Third Class and landed on Juno beach during the D-Day invasion 75 years ago. He received his Honorable Discharge from the Military on January 10, 1947.

On December 28, 1946, Jim married Kathleen M. Healy of Bootle, England, in a ceremony at St. Matthew’s Church in Brooklyn. In 1956 the family moved from Iowa to Oneonta and then settled in Hartwick in 1957. 

For many years Jim was employed as a bricklayer and stonemason for Neil R. Neilson in Oneonta. During those years he was involved with the construction of many landmark buildings including colleges, hospitals and churches in Oneonta, Cooperstown and surrounding areas. 

Jim is survived by seven children, Eileen A. Murdock and husband, Robert of Hartwick, Thomas P. Millea and wife, Carole and Denis J. Millea and wife, Janice, all of Port Kent, NY, Joseph H. Millea and wife, Susan of Yacolt, WA, Patrick M. Millea and wife, Wendy of Maryland, NY, Michael J. Millea and wife, Jennifer, of Hartwick, NY, and Robert W. Millea and wife, Sukena of Atlanta, GA; and many, many grandchildren and great grandchildren. He is also survived by a brother, Robert Millea and wife, Becky of Tulsa, OK, two sisters, Maureen Heman and husband, Robert and Madeline Lynch, all of Emmetsburg, Iowa, and many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his wife of 47 years, Kathleen H. Millea, who died March 23, 1993, a daughter, Mary E. Higgins, who died December 14, 2015, a son, James Robert Millea, who died August 15, 2016, and seven of his siblings.

Family and friends are invited to call and pay their respects from 4-6 p.m. on Tuesday, November 12, 2019, at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home, 82 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown.

The Liturgy of Christian Burial will be offered at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, November 13, 2019, at St. Mary's "Our Lady of the Lake" Roman Catholic Church, 31 Elm Street, Cooperstown, with Fr. David Wm. Mickiewicz, pastor of St. Mary’s Church in Oneonta, officiating.

The Service of Committal and Burial will follow in Hartwick Cemetery.

Jim's family respectfully requests that expressions of sympathy in the form of memorial gifts be directed to the Hartwick Emergency Squad, PO Box 208, Hartwick, NY 13348, or the Hartwick Fire Department Company No. 1, PO Box 86, Hartwick, NY 13348.

Arrangements are under the care and guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.


If you would like to send condolences to the family, send an email to Connell, Dow & Deysenroth. We will forward your comments to the family. If you would like to send flowers in memory of the deceased, contact Mohican Flowers at (607) 547-8822, or A Rose is a Rose at (607) 264-3100.