Ancient Oaks resident Dawn Miller has lived in her Walnut Lane home for more than 55 years. Her husband, Robert K. Miller, died in 2009. Tragedy struck again Feb. 23 when Miller suddenly lost her son, Randy Miller, to complications after he initially survived a double stroke.

Besides mourning the death of her 71-year-old middle son, the 97-year-old found herself without a caretaker.

“My dad lived with my grandmother for the last 11 years helping her,” Miller’s granddaughter Crystal Husser said. She and her sister, Tiffany Miller, have been doing what they can to help, especially with transportation to the grocery store and doctor appointments.

With careers and young children of their own, it has been a challenge for both.

Husser, a learning support teacher at Shoemaker Elementary School, voiced her concerns about finding assistance for her grandmother with her close friend, also an East Penn School District employee.

“I talked to my friend, Emily, who grew up next door,” Husser said. Emily Bonney works at the high school as a guidance counselor.”

Bonney, whose parents still reside at their Walnut Lane property, shared this with Emmaus High School Principal Kate Kieres who also lives in the Ancient Oaks development. Kieres’ son Ben and his friends quickly volunteered to help their elderly neighbor with the yard work.

“I think it is just important to help out in the community,” Ben said. Ben is a junior at EHS. His friends Dylan Bassett and Sam Morati also provide unpaid assistance with yard maintenance.

“It’s really nice they can help out with the yard work, for sure!” Husser said, hoping this will help enable her grandmother to remain in her home.

“That was one of my concerns. I would like to stay here but I don’t know if I’m going to be able to,” Miller said. “Them doing the yard work will be a big help.”

Miller’s family is also checking out Seniors Helping Seniors for possible additional services.

Miller is the original owner of the 3-bedroom, 2-bath ranch home.

“For one year we were the only house here. There was nothing in back of us. Nothing, except we saw the gophers playing out there.”