Chantilly, VA - Alma (Ottzen) Millen, 83, a long time resident of Cooperstown, passed away in Chantilly, Virginia, on Sunday, April 2, 2017.

Born on September 14, 1933, the daughter of Danish immigrants, Peter and Karen Ottzen, in Perth Amboy, New Jersey. She also lived in Tottenville (Staten Island), for several years before the family relocated to Otsego County. She was a proud part of the Ottzen musical and artistic traditions, playing concert harp in her youth, designing jewelry and bringing old furniture and jewelry back to life with her talent to restoration.

A graduate of SUNY Oneonta, with an M.S. in Education. In 1964, she married, James W. Millen, in the St. Agnes Chapel of Christ Church in Cooperstown. She taught early elementary students at several schools in Upstate N.Y., before she became a mother, and taught several summers in a pre-elementary school program at CCS, while raising their two children.

A familiar and friendly face seen about in flea markets and antique shops throughout the area, she also worked for many years as a court attendant of the Otsego County Courthouse and volunteered time at the Susquehanna Animal Shelter Thrift shop.

She was predeceased by her husband on March 6, 2000, but is survived by her two brothers and their wives, Peter and Lynn Ottzen of Otego; and Lorentz and Beverly Ottzen of Santa Rosa Beach, Florida; her children and their spouses, Anne Margaret Millen-Martini and hustand, Lorenzo Martini of Herndon, Virginia; Peter Haynes Millen and his wife, Barbara Levick Millen of Chicago, Illinois; cousins, nieces and nephews from bothe sides of the family.

According to her wishes, there will be no formal services. In lieu of flowers, her family suggests that memorial donations may be directed to Susquehanna Animal Shelter, 4841 NY-28, Cooperstown, N.Y. 13326 or Catskill Area Hospic and Palliative Care, 1 Birchwood Drive, Oneonta, NY 13820.