Ammy Milec departed our lives on February 8th, 2022. Typical of Ammy she died, miraculously avoiding any other of the many special February dates of her family members, so she could have her own special day. According to Ammy, she was the favorite of the Horak children. She knew this and never missed an opportunity to let everyone know it. I couldn't wait to meet her beautiful sisters: Malia, Rachelle, Kristen and brother Robbie. The siblings lucky enough to have been raised in the same home as Ammy the Great. Now that Ammy has moved on they can come out from behind her greatness.
The rock in her life was JohnMilec (we always called him JohnMilec, not just John). They were soul mates and superstars in their own marriage. Although Ammy loved JohnMilec her real husband was Don Johnson. Don and Ammy met on countless Friday nights at my home, while Ammy was on her weekly Friday night holiday from her herd of children. Ammy and JohnMilec had seven children: Michael, Andy (although when he was brought to her in the hospital, she questioned if he was really her child), Bree, MacKenzie, Malia, and Faryn. Oh! And Whitney the middle child. Ammy once forgot her at my house, so it is only appropriate to do the same here. She used her kids as illegal labor and encouraged me to do the same with mine. But like a lioness, she was their biggest advocate and defended them fiercely when they needed it. Ammy had a favorite child and a favorite grandchild. She told me exactly who they were, but I am sworn to never tell. Ammy could keep a secret and taught me the importance of such a gift.
Ammy and JohnMilec had a grand hand in Noah's life. He would come to Oak Island for week long visits each summer. On his first visit he refused to wear sunscreen. When I reported this to Ammy she said, "I hope he got really sunburnt." I replied "he sure did," and typical of Ammy she said "so glad you got that over with." Noah always went shopping to take back gifts for Ammy and JohnMilec. It took hours. Buying something for John was easy, but Ammy not so much. Noah took this assignment very seriously. Often when he would call me to let me know he had made it home he would tell me with great excitement the gifts were loved.
Although Ammy and John had 7 biological children and countless grands, they had many, many more children that flocked to their home because of Ammy's no-nonsense attitude. She was a firm, honest, direct adult but she had total acceptance of God's morons. Ammy did not suffer fools and she absolutely let you know when you made stupid choices. Whether it was a big mistake or a small one, Ammy would make a note of it. I learned it was better to just admit my losses and let Ammy console me. Her extensive vocabulary was both appropriate and inappropriate. She had a litany of curse words she didn't hesitate to use. She loved a well placed curse word as much as she loved playing practical jokes on people. One of her favorite jokes was the time she showed the movie 'Jaws' to our kids the night before heading to the beach for a week. I did one up her by telling her kids the story 'Bloody Bones' but it never topped seeing a great white shark eat a dozen people inches off the shoreline the night before your beach vacation.
While Ammy was generous and would give you the moo-moo off her back she would not share recipes. You could ask and ask away, but it just wasn't happening. Oh, you had better tell her how delicious it was, but asking how to make it was a big no-no. Ammy was funny about her food and drink, but not funny ha-ha. She once cussed me out for asking if we could get Dunkin Donut coffee. She told me she would rather drink douche. She was an incredibly picky eater. When we ate out, I always said a small prayer for the waitress and chef. She would eat a few bites and then box up the leftovers for later where she could take them home and "doctor" them up to her liking. She also stole any condiments on the table and always asked for more with no shame.
Ammy leaves behind so much stuff. So.much.stuff. But it was her stuff and she made magic with that stuff. Someone would come over and ask for a this or that. Ammy would disappear and bring back 6 this or thats in 6 different colors and sizes. Her original artwork is legendary and will always be. Each was unique and crafted by her talented hands. When she was selling her art, she made snakes, lots and lots of snakes. At the shows people either loved the snakes or were repelled by them. Some of my fondest memories were Ammy silently judging people who were afraid of clay snakes.
Ammy always carried a purse with her that was the size of a small child. It made noise and she took it everywhere. It had everything in it and sometimes she would dig through it looking for something, cursing at the purse if she couldn't find the thing right away. I must have heard her over a thousand times yell: "HEY! Go get my purse, I have something for you." Then she would pull out a scarf she had made just for you. She once made a beautiful blanket for me. She made it for my birthday in November and mailed it to me in August. But that is my Ammy Milec blanket.
Ammy lived an extraordinary life. She laughed loud and often inappropriately. She ate what she wanted to eat. She fixed what she wanted to fix. She loved so many people in a way that cannot be recreated. She folded people into her life who were both like her and completely unlike her. No one I have ever met had more friends that thought they were her best friend, than Ammy. She was my sister, my confidant and my ever loyal, true friend. Loving her was sometimes frustrating but every moment I spent with her was rewarding in some way or another. As Ammy once told me: "home is where the family is." I am one of the luckiest friends to have been loved by Ammo Milo. And if you read this to this point? So were you my friend, so were you.
Martha Oneill
2/10/22

Ammy is survived by her husband of 49 years, John Milec and their seven children Michael Milec (Gretchen), Andy Milec (Ivy), Breeanne Milec, Whitney Voss (Tim), MacKenzie McKeon, Malia Tschantz (Dave), and Faryn Boigegrain (Chad).
Ammy has 12 grandchildren who she loved, delighted in, and cherished. In true Ammy fashion she didn't want to be grandma, instead she was Boo-boo to Noah, Yishan, Greyson, Zackery, Cooper, Violet, Kenny, Anna, Sawyer, Patrick, and Emmerson.
Ammy is proceeded in death by her parents Robert and Anges Horak, and her granddaughter Angel.
In lieu of flowers please make a donation to Akron Children's Hospital where Ammy spent many months sitting with her grandchildren and hugging her daughters. Donate to Akron Children's Hospital.

A private service with immediate family will be held Monday, February 14th.