PETERBOROUGH — Joanna Haines Miller, 88, died peacefully on June 29, 2010, at Monadnock Community Hospital with her husband of 66 years, the Rev. Ralph J. Miller, at her side and son Rodney playing an air on the fiddle for her.

Joanna was born in Glens Falls, N.Y., on May 26, 1922, and grew up in New York state and West Virginia until the age of 12, when she went to live at the Masonic Home for Children in Utica, N.Y. It was there that her talent for music was discovered and nurtured. She attended Syracuse University’s College of Fine Arts in music education, studying piano and organ, and graduated in 1944. At Syracuse, she met her future husband, Ralph. Together, they moved to Connecticut, where he attended Yale Divinity School and they were married.

As a young adult, she raised four children and taught and accompanied music classes in the public schools of Rochester, N.Y.

In 1978, Joanna and Ralph moved to New Hampshire, where she became a much admired accompanist, pianist and organist for the Keene Pops Choir (1981-2000), Price Farm School musicals (Antrim, 1980-1998), Alstead Congregational Church, Dublin Community Church, the Peterborough Unitarian Universalist Church and the RiverMead retirement community. As PUUC choir director Maria Belva has written, “Her repertoire was extensive and varied... Her musical ability, along with her easy manner, her quick smile and lovely laugh all endeared her to us.” Playing music ranging from J.S. Bach to Scott Joplin, Joanna was also the musical well-spring for her family, who enjoyed music sessions with her lively spirit throughout their lives.

Joanna enjoyed quilting and made more than 80 quilts for family, friends and church fundraising raffles.

She is survived by her husband, the Rev. Ralph J. Miller of RiverMead, Peterborough; a daughter, Joanna Okrepky of Wake Forest, N.C.; sons, Rodney Miller of Antrim, Randy Miller of East Alstead and Ralph Miller of Fancy Gap, Va.; eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held on Monday at 10 a.m. at RiverMead Retirement Community Auditorium, Rivermead Road, Peterborough.

Donations may be made to UNICEF c/o U.S. Funds for Unicef, 125 Maiden Lane, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10038

Cremation arrangements were made through the Cremation Society of N.H., 243 Hanover St., Manchester.