Funeral Details

Phyllis Miller Cable, age 86.

Sunday, August 20th marks the passing of Phyllis Miller Cable who finally found peace after many years of struggle living with Alzheimers Disease. Oldest daughter to Herman Levin and Edith Greenfield and survived by sister Marcia.

Phyllis, who loved to learn and read like her mother, received a bachelors in Psychology from the University of Illinois initially at Navy Pier and then at Champaign/Urbana. Her first, and interestingly only employer, was The Jewish Vocational Service, as a Psychometrist helping Chicagoans with mental health challenges find work suited for their individual capabilities. Here, she met her first husband, Samuel Manuel Miller from Harlan, Kentucky. They would bring two children into the world, Howard and Mark. A month before sister Sandy joined the team, Sam passed from a sudden heart attack on his way to work. With the help of Herman and Edith, family and community Phyllis carried the family forward.

Eventually, Phyllis would start attending evening classes at Northeastern Illinois University and finally achieve her Masters in Psychology. She shifted into the position of Career Guidance Counselor for the JVS for the rest of her professional carrier. She helped 100's of people and offered counseling at local libraries around the north suburbs.

WIth the help of her aunt Elizabeth playing match maker, she met Arlan Cable. The couple dated for many years before marrying in 1980. The two would enjoy life together for 35 years.

Outside of her professional career, Phyllis was a talented artist. This was her passion and her "happy place". She took many ceramic sculpting classes at The Art Institute of Chicago. Her house was adorned with several dozen busts and human figures. She also took many oil painting classes and eventually landed at the Artists Quadrant Studio with Evanston teacher Alain Gavin. Several days a week Phyllis was a regular at the studio for decades. She loved portraiture and loved to paint the children of friends of hers. She discovered the black and white photography of Edward Curtis and Carl Moon who captured many portraits of indigenous peoples of the west during the mid- 1800's. She found a connection with the stories and emotion that were emanating from their faces. She would start with a quick charcoal rendering of the subjects in the photographs, then spend her time telling their stories in full color. It was all about her study of colors. She would produce over 80 large portraits in her career. You can see her works at www.phylliscable.com.

Growing up in a family of musicians, Phyllis loved music, especially classical music and one always found WFMT on her radio in the home, car and office. She often attended Skokie Valley Symphony Orchestra concerts, bought a piano and took up piano lessons for a short time.

Phyllis always shared that her greatest achievement were her children. She is survived by children: Howard Miller, Mark Miller (Anne Cousineau), Sandra (Dan) Leib, and Alana Cable. Grandchildren: Zoe N. Miller, Samantha Leib, Eli J. Miller, Alison and Rebecca Leib.

A celebration of Phyllis' life and Shiva will be held on Tuesday August 22nd at the Home of Sandra and Dan Leib, 188 Roger Williams, Highland Park, IL from 1-9pm.

Charitable contributions are welcome to the Alzheimers Association (www.alz.org)

Arrangements by Chicago Jewish Funerals - Skokie Chapel, 847.229.8822, www.cjfinfo.com.