Our Promise

At Miller-Plonka Funeral Home, our staff has exceptional experience and strive to provide quality service to our families.  We have two funeral directors on call to provide 24 hour service to your family. We promise to be there when the need arises. Please feel free to call upon us for assistance. Please meet our funeral directors.

Noelle R. Miller-Plonka

Noelle R. Miller-Plonka

Noelle R. Miller-Plonka, was born in Little Falls, NY and raised in the Oppenheim and Dolgeville areas.  She graduated from Oppenheim-Ephratah Central School with the Class of 1998.  Noelle then went to the State University of New York, College at Oneonta where she obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Communication Studies and graduated with the Class of 2002. From there, she went on to the State University of New York, College of Technology at Canton.  While at SUNY Canton, Noelle received the Harry E. King Convocation Award for having the highest grade point average in her Mortuary Science Class. She obtained her Associates in Applied Sciences Degree in Mortuary Science and graduated with the Class of 2003.  Noelle served her  funeral director's residency program at Dimbleby, Friedel, Williams & Edmunds Funeral Homes in the Utica area.  Upon completion of her residency in May of 2005, Noelle then became a licensed funeral director and began working with ten funeral homes in the Mohawk Valley and Utica areas and she continues to do so today. She is also the President and Secretary of the Miller-Plonka Funeral Home, Inc. Noelle is a member of many clubs and organizations which include Tri-County Funeral Director's Association, the Oppenheim Trailblazer's Snowmobile Club, Spruce Lake Fish and Game Club, Dolgeville Rod and Gun Club, Salisbury RidgeRunners Snowmobile Club.  She is a faithful member of St. Joseph's Church in Dolgeville where she has been a member for 28 years.  Noelle is a dedicated community member of the Dolgeville & Oppeheim areas. 

Email Noelle at: noelle@millerplonkafuneralhome.com

Christopher J. Plonka

Christopher J. Plonka was born in Potsdam and raised in Norwood-Norfolk areas in northern upstate New York, near Canada.  Chris was brought up in a funeral home, where his family owned Buck Funeral Homes, in Norwood, Norfolk & Colton.  He attended Norwood-Norfolk Central School and graduated with the Class of 1995.  In 1998, Chris entered into the United States Navy and served his country for four years. Within those years, he was stationed on the U.S.S. Enterprise where he was deployed to the Mediterranean twice.  On his last deployment, his ship was on its way home when it was turned around and sent back to Iraq to respond to the attacks on September 11, 2001.  His ship was one of many involved in the conflicts in the Middle East and the Iraqi War.  In September of 2002, Chris was honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy.  Upon his discharge, Chris enrolled at the State University of New York, College of Technology at Canton.  He graduated from SUNY Canton with the Class of 2003 with an Associates in Applied Science in Mortuary Science.  Christopher then went on to serve his funeral director's residency program with his family's funeral homes, Buck Funeral Homes.  He became licensed in June of 2004 and has worked for various funeral homes in the Mohawk Valley and Utica area and continues to do so today.  In 2004, Christopher was accepted into the New York State Corrections Department as a Corrections Officer. He works at the Greene Correctional Facility as well as a funeral director at Miller-Plonka Funeral Home where he serves as Vice-President and Treasurer.  He is a member of many clubs and organizations including, Tri-County Funeral Director's Association, Oppenheim Trailblazer's Snowmobile Club, where he sits on the Board of Directors, Dolgeville Rod and Gun Club, and Salisbury Ridgerunner's Snowmobile Club.  He is a faithful member of St. Joseph's Church in Dolgeville.  He is a dedicated community member of Dolgeville.

Email Christopher at: christopher@millerplonkafuneralhome.com

Our Family History

Christopher J. Plonka grew up in the funeral industry.  His father, John Plonka, licensed funeral director, along with his mother, Carol, bought the three Buck Funeral Homes in the 1970's and has been the owner since then.  His brother, Brian is also a funeral director with the firm and has worked for 13 years with Buck Funeral Home.  Chris' uncle, Tom Plonka joined the family of funeral directors in the early 1980's and is manager of the Harter Funeral Home in Brewerton, one of the three firms owned by Harter Funeral Home.

Christopher comes from a funeral home family which means he knows the dedication that a family owned funeral home can provide to families.  His experience, coming from a funeral director family, can not be surpassed by his devotion and passion for the funeral service industry.  He watched his mother and father work hard for their business and he intends to carry on the tradition.

Noelle R. Miller-Plonka is a first generation funeral director.  She was raised in Oppeheim by her mother Marcia and her father Nicholas Miller.  Her mother taught her the importance of family bonds and her father taught her the importance of education and persistence.  Along with these traits, her parents encouraged her to follow her dream to become a funeral director and to own her own funeral home.   

Christopher and Noelle met at school at SUNY Canton.  After a year of dating, they were engaged and after a year and a half engagement, they were married on September 10,2005.  In October of 2006 they were blessed with their first child and in October of 2007 they were blessed with their second child.  Along with their children, Noelle and Chris dedicate their lives to serve the people of Salisbury, Stratford, Dolgeville, Oppeheim, Inghams Mills, Lasselsville, Rockwood, & Ephratah.

Christopher and Noelle Plonka opened the Miller-Plonka Funeral Home, on October 6, 2008.