Obituary of Jean Marie Phillips

Jean Marie Phillips, 94, formerly of Iroquois Trail in Tribes Hill, New York passed away on Saturday, May 2, 2020 at Wells House Nursing Home with her loving son by her side.

Born Jean Marie Brownell on June 3, 1925 in Amsterdam to the late Fred and Evelyn (Kinsey) Brownell, she was the youngest of nine siblings.

On September 24, 1944 she was united in marriage to the love of her life and best friend Louis J. Phillips Jr. During World War II she accompanied her husband to California where he was stationed. After the war the couple returned to Tribes Hill to start their new life together where time spent with family was when Jean was at her happiest. Jean’s greatest joy in life was her commitment to her husband and children.

During and after the war Jean was a telephone operator and in 1964 became the receptionist and switchboard operator at the Montgomery County Office Building where she retired from in 1987.

She was a long-time member of the Tribes Hill United Presbyterian Church, and enjoyed time spent serving her church family as choir member, Deacon, and Elder.

Jean loved music; hum a few bars and she could play any song on the piano. In the 1950s she produced two minstrel shows for the Cub Scouts that were a great hit in the Tribes Hill community. She loved attending the Hilltopper Games as well as the various sport events, plays, and school activities that her children and grandchildren participated in.

Mrs. Phillips was predeceased by her husband Louis J. Phillips Jr. who passed away on April 22, 2012; eight siblings; sisters Frieda, Elizabeth, and brothers Merrill, Scott, Loyal, Samuel, Charles and Cyrus (Wayne) as well as her sister-in-law Doris (Francis) Wager.

She is survived by her close friend and sister-in-law Shirley Phillips of Fort Hunter, sons Douglas (Susan) Phillips of Mayfield, Craig (Cheryl) Phillips of Fort Plain, and Gary (Barbara) Phillips of Bleecker. She was the proud grandmother of Scott (Tammy) Phillips, Christopher (Natalie) Phillips, Daniel (Toni) Phillips, Jeffrey (Vanessa) Phillips, Sara (Canaan) McDuffee, Jennifer (Edward) Bogart, Jared and Caitlyn Phillips. She is also survived by fourteen great grandchildren, two great great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

A private interment will take place on Thursday, May 7, 2020 at 12:45pm at Pine Grove Cemetery with the Rev. Larry Greenwald presiding; a live broadcast will be made available via Betz, Rossi, Bellinger & Stewart’s Facebook page.

In lieu of flowers contributions in Mrs. Phillip’s name may be made to the Tribes Hill United Presbyterian Church 116 Elizabeth St, Tribes Hill, NY 12177, or to the Albany Honor Flight Chapter; Patriot Flight Inc PO Box 13776 Albany, NY 12212-3776.