Sorority remembers house mom

For the past 16 years, Lorine "Lo" Miller graced over 600 women of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority with her presence, support and love.\nOn Wednesday, Miller passed away in her living quarters.\n"It's very sad," Chapter President Jacalu Robson said. "It was very unexpected."\nEarlier in the day, Miller, 71, was moving around the house as she would normally do, checking up on the kitchen, the maids and the women. She retired to her room sometime after 5 p.m. where she was found no less than a half hour later. Miller was known to have a heart condition for which she took medication. Within the last few weeks she had visited her heart doctor and returned with a good report. \nThe house mother was as Robson put it, a stickler for the rules. Survived by her brother, two sons and grandchildren, Miller had an indisputable interest in the lives of the current Theta members as well as the numerous alumni.\n"She was genuinely interested in everyone in the chapter's lives," Robson said. "She was the first to know about the new boyfriend, who got the summer internship and who didn't." \nAs well as knowing all the in-house gossip, Robson said Miller was a big fan of the celebrity gossip as well. She enjoyed watching reality TV and reading celebrity magazines. Besides being heavily involved with the activities, she stayed in close contact with a number of the sorority's alumni. \n"Lo was always showing pictures of the alumnis' new babies; she always knew who was getting married, who got into what law school," Robson said.\nThe scene in front of the Theta house on Wednesday was chaotic with an abundance of police cars, firetrucks and an ambulance. Police arrived on the scene at 5:24 p.m., followed by the ambulance three minutes later, IU Police Department Lt. Jerry Minger said. Miller was pronounced dead later that night at Bloomington Hospital.\nRobson described the scene as a little scary and said no one really knew what to think at the time. \nLater that evening the entire house held a "fireside" as a way to share their memories of Miller with each other. Smiles and laughs were plentiful as the girls recalled the funny moments with Robson. But tears weren't that far away.\n"We laughed because of all the funny times we had with her," Robson said. "But we cried because we all want more of those funny times."\nAn outpouring of support has come to the sorority through cards, flowers, phone calls and e-mails from alumni, other house directors, other greek houses and non-greek organizations. Dean of Students Richard McKaig also made an appearance Wednesday night to show his support for the grieving women. \n"It is always a shock when something like this happens to one of our campus chapters," McKaig said. "The women were doing a wonderful job. They were concerned and anxious at the same time."\nHe was notified at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday of Miller's death. He said alumni were on hand to help guide the women through the hard times. Along with alumni, counselors were on site to aid the women as well. \nIn memory of Miller, women of the chapter wore pink ribbons Thursday. \nA memorial service and funeral will be held in Bloomington after final arrangements are made.\n"We would like to thank everyone for the overwhelming support from everyone," Robson said. "We appreciate everything"