Phyllis M. Adams

Phyllis Adams, who had a huge grin, an explosive laugh - and relentless optimism to match, died peacefully in her sleep on March 26, 2024. She was 72 years old. After two years of treatment for cancer, she spent her last days in the care of the staff of the Park Vista Skilled Nursing facility in Fullerton, CA. She was in the frequent presence, in person and by phone, of family and friends, including many members of St. Joseph's Episcopal Church in Buena Park. Churches from Long Island and Pennsylvania to California wrapped her in their prayers.

The daughter of Barbara and John Kanya, Phyllis Mary Adams was born in Jamaica, Queens, and grew up in Maplewood, N.J. There, she forged a lifelong bond with her "best pal" Carolyn Langley, and graduated from Columbia High School. "Love is to share," Phyllis wrote in her high school yearbook, and she seemed to live by those words. She loved music, especially The Rolling Stones, and kept a record of her rock n roll experiences in the form of ticket stubs, LPs and concert T-shirts. She saw the Stones play live at least a half dozen times, and got close enough to Mick Jagger once to see the pink shoelaces in his sneakers. Phyllis graduated from the Stafford Hall School of Business, in Summit, N.J., and worked as a secretary for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey in the World Trade Center from 1971-1987. She recalled watching George Willing "the Human Fly" scale the South Tower in 1977, and was delighted that then-Mayor Abraham Beame reduced a hefty fine to just $1.10 - one cent per story climbed.

She was on the commuter train in 1980 when she met the love of her life, Douglas Adams. They moved together to California, and married in 1992 on February 29 - Leap Day. They enjoyed many friendships built around their neighbors and their hobbies, including growing begonias and orchids, and collecting clocks and coins. Phyllis supported communities of hobbyists, serving as the secretary of the local chapters of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors and the American Begonia Society; as a docent for the Friends of the Fullerton Arboretum; and as an active member of the Orange County Orchid Society. Phyllis and Doug filled their home in Fullerton with joyful artifacts of these pursuits, with clocks filling the walls and gardens brimming with flowers.

Phyllis and Doug also filled their home with well-loved and colorfully-named pets, including her beloved dog Gracie, and cats Coconut, who died last year at age 27, and Poppycock. The St. Joseph's church community is providing Poppycock and Gracie new loving homes.

Phyllis grieved the loss of Doug, who died in 2012, and missed him dearly. She was also predeceased by her parents, a sister Janet, who died in infancy, as well as her paternal grandparents, Mary (Salony) & John Kanya who emigrated from Jarabina, Czechoslovakia (present day Slovakia). She is survived by her sister, Barbara (Kanya) Shapley, whom she called "Barbie"; cousins including Jim Kanya and Jay Batterman; her brother-in-law David Adams and sister-in-law Peg Hickman; and their families. To her nephew Dan Shapley and niece Nicole Sosler and their families, she was "Aunt Phyl," who would share stray trivia, call with news of the hummingbird nesting in her windchimes, and lose spectacularly at card games (or win, absent-mindedly). She never missed a birthday or holiday. A collector of family lore, she helped share news among Kanyas, Salonys and other branches of the family tree. To help with a school project, she recently relayed to her grand nephews, Ben Shapley and Carmelo Sosler, stories of the family's arrivals at Ellis Island.

She had a deep well for joy, and shared her joy. She was well loved by people she met because she listened to them and cared about them, knowing the names of all of their children, where they went to school and the names of all their pets. The Episcopal church communities of St. Andrew's, Fullerton, and St. Joseph's were mainstays of her life. Church community members loved and cared for Phyllis, especially Rev. Cindy Voien, Rev. Mary Trainor, Joyce Wills, Sandra Herron, and devoted friend and aide Teresa Hockenberry. Phyllis also provided comfort and service to many: After graduating from CNI Institute in Orange, CA, she worked for home care agencies, including Colonial Home Care for nearly 20 years.

The clocks are still ticking on her walls. Her plants are still blooming in the yard. The hummingbird egg in the windchime nest has hatched. She's moved on. The people she leaves behind will miss her, and the people she's missed will hear her great big laugh.

Memorial services will be held at St. Joseph's at a date to be announced. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to St. Joseph's Episcopal Church, 8300 Valley View Street, Buena Park, CA 90620 (Phone: 714-828-8950).