Phoebe B. Honig

1929 - 2021

Mrs. Phoebe Bell Honig, ("Bing") 91, died peacefully on January 6, 2021 in her home, surrounded by loving family. The daughter of Dr. Kenneth E. Bell and Vera Thresher Bell of Marblehead, MA, Phoebe was born on October 17, 1929, five days before the stock market crash which began the great depression. She was their fourth and youngest child.

She is survived by a sister, Elizabeth Scott of MD, her sons Bruce and Alan of Pittsfield, a son Duncan and a daughter-in-law Marilyn Honig, and their sons Austin and Carter of Stamford VT, and their daughter Haley Honig Mielenz and her husband Robert Mielenz of Clarksburg, MA. Also, a brother-in-law Robert Ehlert, and four beloved nieces: Cindy Lyles, Carol McIntyre, Anne Ehlert and Ruth Bell; and a nephew, Brad Scott, and their families. A sister, Phyllis Ehlert, died in 1999, a brother, John Bell in 2001, a brother-in-law, John Scott in 1996, a sister-in-law, Nancy Bell in 2011, a nephew, Steve Scott in 1969, and a niece, Merry Perry in 2014.

"Industrious Phoebe", as a teacher called her, showed interest in art and creativity from early on, known in Marblehead High School for her "jet propulsion" brain. She did illustrations for the yearbook, and was taught to appreciate and write poetry, which skill began 70 years of creating poems. A 1952 graduate of Rhode Island School of Design, where she majored in illustration, she came to Pittsfield to design stationery for the Eaton Paper Corporation, leaving her beloved ocean for hills and lakes. She met Clark Honig at a church young adult group in 1954, and they married eight months later.

Clark and she were fifty-year members of First United Methodist Church. There she sang in the choir, taught children's Sunday School, and prepared and taught her own classes for adults, as well as doing artistic displays in wall cases. Later they joined South Congregational Church, where they both sang in the choir. Bing was also a member of the College club and the May Mattoon Circle, in which she taught Valentine-making classes. In 2004, Clark and she celebrated 50 years of marriage. Members of the Votre Soiree dance group and a Concept Therapy group, she and Clark enjoyed travel, and spending summers with their sons and grandchildren at their cottage at Winona Manor on Lake Winnipesaukee. Clark died in 2008.

Bing had a 90th birthday bash in October of 2019, where she danced and celebrated with many friends and family members. In December, she self-published the last of her four books, Heartfelt, a book of poems. She greatly appreciated her wonderful caregivers from Home Instead Senior Care, among them Rita Morse, who was with her for several years. And in recent months, several private care givers, along with the nurses and staff at Hospice Care of the Berkshires provided help and comfort to her and her family.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, services will be private, but a memorial service in Phoebe's honor will be aired on YouTube at FUMCpittsfield by January 20th. Anyone wishing to donate to a charity in her name may give to the food pantry of South Congregational Church of Pittsfield. Her ashes will be interred next summer behind the Melvin Village Community Church in NH. Dery Funeral Home, 54 Bradford St, Pittsfield, MA is handling the arrangements.