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Tryon– Her light shone brightly on the world when she was born on July 3, 1951, to the late Aria Groenendyk Kiefte and Jan Kiefte in Dordrecht, The Netherlands.  The family emigrated to the USA in December of 1956. They settled first in Hawthorne, New Jersey, where Miriam attended elementary school. After her father’s death in 1963, the family moved to Ridgewood, New Jersey, where Miriam graduated from high school. She later graduated from equestrian school at Potomac Horse Center in Maryland. She married Joel Phillips in 1972 and they resided in Towaco, New Jersey.  They were later divorced. Miriam moved to Horseshoe, North Carolina, where she married her second husband, Robert Intres, in 1992. Years after his death, she met and married Dennis Lanahan in Tryon, North Carolina in 2014.

Her light shone brightly in Heaven when she left her earthly body and entered the gates of Heaven into the arms of Jesus.  Miriam Lanahan of Tryon, North Carolina, passed August 2, 2023, in Hendersonville, North Carolina. Miriam was seventy-two. In addition to her parents, Miriam was preceded in death by her late husband, Robert Intres; sisters, Anne Padalino and Jude Yskamp; brother, Hendrik Kiefte; her niece, Teresa M Padalino; and her nephews, Heath Larson and Marcus Yskamp.

“In Remembrance of Our Mom”

To say she “touched the lives of many” is true; but “she rocked the world of all who met her” would be more accurate. When you met our mom, you knew it! You’d forever think of life that much differently – and for the better. She was giving of herself to a fault. Selfless. She had a huge servant’s heart. She was creative and so talented with art, music, and floral design.  Feeling heard and cared about was how she made others feel; she was so good with people.  She loved horses and all sorts of animals.  She was an amazing human who was beautiful inside and out. She always saw the good in people and had faith that could move mountains. She loved God with every fiber of her being. She loved us all BIG. Her faith was her legacy.

True to form, our mom did not want to be the center of attention and thus did not want an official service to celebrate her beautiful life. But please do take a moment to celebrate and honor the amazing human she was. Do so in your own special way. Maybe by doing something you enjoyed together. Stop for ice cream or to pick a wildflower. Buy a bouquet of flowers to bring to your neighbor. Enjoy some Thai food. Buy ALL the candy to indulge and share! Eat salted licorice. Watch a butterfly dance across the sky. Save a turtle. Ride a horse or even just go smell a horse and appreciate that fragrance. Hug your dog.  Spray some Chanel N5. Take a bubble bath with enough candles lit where you fear the smoke alarm will sound. Pray. Sing worship songs and raise your hands in worship. Play CeCe Winans’ “Goodness of God” as loud as you can! Listen to some Dan Fogelberg. Play guitar or piano. Share lunch with a stranger. Bake Christmas cookies with your grands. Be creative in some way. Enjoy amazing food. Enjoy your family. Enjoy your friends. Enjoy life. Use the cloth napkins and the good dishes. See the rainbows. Appreciate the small things. Do this in her memory, in her honor.

Life CAN be about flowers, rainbows, puppies, kittens, and unicorns if we let it. Thanks, Mom, for showing us that is possible and giving us something to strive for! You ALWAYS saw the good. You ALWAYS saw God’s hand in everything. You were truly our unicorn. We miss you and love you.

Miriam is survived by her husband, Dennis Lanahan, to whom she was married for the past nine years.

Miriam has four children and four wonderful sons and daughters-in-law: Jodie Morrison (Billy), Mike Phillips (Chrissy McGinnis), Ryan Intres (Sydney), and Courtney Intres (Derek Poteat).

Miriam is survived also by her sister, Jan Beatrix Larson (Don). She leaves behind many dear friends and family (too numerous to mention) who will miss her deeply.

Miriam’s nine grandchildren, Luke Morrison, Cameron Morrison, McKaylyn Harkins, Madelyn McGinnis, Rowan Intres, Wyatt Intres, Everleigh Intres, Liam Poteat, and Aidan Poteat; and two great-grandchildren, Juda Opperman, and Ivy Opperman, will miss their Mamoo and her fun, quirky ways.

Miriam also has five stepchildren; Elizabeth Iglesias (Paul), Charles Lanahan (Donna), Thomas Lanahan, Joseph Lanahan (Margaret), and Brian Lanahan; and six step-grandchildren, Maria Iglesias, Matthew Iglesias, Robert Iglesias, Elise Lanahan, Benjamin Lanahan, and Nora Lanahan.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the following charities that were close to her heart: Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch (19344 Innes Market Road, Bend, OR 97703) www.crystalpeaksyouthranch.org; Therapeutic Riding of Tryon (T.R.O.T.) (T.R.O.T. c/o FENCE, 3381 Hunting Country Road, Tryon, NC 28782) www.fence.org; or The Storehouse (P.O. Box 6146 Hendersonville, NC 28793).  Physical items can be donated to The Storehouse as well as financial contributions at www.storehouseonline.org.

Dennis Lanahan