Phyllis Haberstroh Obituary


(May 14, 1929 - Nov 27, 2012)
Phyllis Haberstroh, dearest mother, sister, grandmother, and friend, departed quietly and unexpectedly in the early morning hours of November 27. Remaining civically and socially engaged until her last days, the ripples of her love and life's work will continue on.
Born as Phyllis Weese in Toronto Ontario, she proudly maintained her Canadian citizenship throughout her fifty-five years of U.S. residency. She graduated with her BA and BSW from the University of Toronto in 1954 and earned her Masters from Simmons College School of Social Work in Boston, MA in 1960. She met her lifelong love, Chadwick Haberstroh, in Boston while he was teaching at MIT. They married in January of 1959 and left soon afterward for Ecuador, where Chad had been offered a faculty position. After working in Denver, Cleveland, and Barcelona, they rooted in Milwaukee, Wisconsin for 30 years. Their first child, John, was born in Barcelona, Spain in 1966 and their second, Sarah, in Milwaukee two years later. Phyllis and Chad moved to Bellingham, Washington in 1997, shortly after their retirements and the birth of their first grandchild.
Phyllis had many professional accomplishments. She practiced clinical psychotherapy and social work for over 30 years, culminating in her appointment as the President of the Wisconsin Society for Clinical Social Work. Phyllis delighted in her family, cooking, classical music, theater, politics, reading, cats, nature, and social occasions. She was an exceptional and devoted mom. She worked tirelessly for the principles she believed in, peace and justice for all people. In Bellingham, she was an active member of the League of Women Voters, the Music Club, two book clubs, and the Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship. Phyllis, treasured by many, will be remembered for her lovely presence and radiant smile. Phyllis is preceded in death by her husband, Chad; and survived by her brother, Gordon Weese; her children John and Sarah; their spouses, Lisa Haberstroh and Erik Pearson; and her grandchildren, Eva and Owen Haberstroh, and Molly and Luke Pearson.
A celebration of her life will be held at the Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship on Sunday, December 16 at 2 PM with a reception to follow in the Social Hall. If you wish to share a gift, please make a donation to Amnesty International, Greenpeace, PBS, the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship, or a charity of your choice. Please share memories and stories online at
www.farewelltributes.comMoles Farewell Tributes-Bellingham

Published by Bellingham Herald from Dec. 5 to Dec. 9, 2012.
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Memories and Condolences
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4 Entries

I grieve about the loss of our beloved Phyllis. Phyllis was a very thoughtful and wonderful woman and I was blessed to know her. She was my ESL tutor and I had great respect for her. We became friends over the years. Phyllis was a very generous woman and was always willing to help all of her friends and family. My children and I loved her and we will miss her kind heart and beautiful spirit.
My prayers and thoughts are with her family. With all of my sympathy and love, Marina.

Marina Polishuk

December 15, 2012

Mary Jane Vetter

December 13, 2012

Phyllis will be missed by all of us at the BellinghamMusic Club. Her gentle presence at our monthly Board Meetings was greatly appreciated....and needed!
What a lovely lady with a warm smile and kind heart whose special nature will remain within our hearts.
Fondly,
Gail Haines

Gail Haines

December 9, 2012

Phyllis, she was a gift to us all - even those of us who knew her for a short time. She joined our group artist trip to Brittany and we will never forget her generous spirit, her love of people and how she embraced life with arms wide open. In the face of confusion, her good humor cut a trail we all could follow, to a happy conclusion. The world enjoyed an amazing woman for the time she was with us - we celebrate our time spent with her, the lessons learned from her and her overflowing, bright smile.

Wade & Tonie Marlow

December 6, 2012

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