Phyllis Jean (Atack) Ferlinz

Phyllis J. (Atack) Ferlinz, longtime resident of Lexington, passed away on Wednesday, November 16, 2022 - she was 84. Devoted mother of Sandra J. Valenti and her husband Steve of North Reading, she is also survived by her longtime love, Robert Lynch, as well as three cherished grandchildren, Julia, Scott, and Kristina Valenti.

Phyllis was born on July 25, 1938 and spent her early and school years in Lakewood, Ohio and then Wilmington, DE. In 1960, she was graduated with a BA in French from Wellesley College and then in 1961, she received her Master's Degree in French from Yale University. After graduate school, she returned to Massachusetts as a French (and later, additionally, Spanish) teacher, first at William Diamond Junior High and then for many years at Lexington High School. She was very proud to have taught hundreds of students to speak romance languages for nearly 45 years, before retiring in 2005.

Her greatest passions were traveling the world and discovering new countries and cultures. A true "foodie", she loved to both cook gourmet meals as well as frequent terrific restaurants. She loved all theater, (especially Broadway), the Symphony and the Pops. She was both an intellectual who liked to read historical fiction and avidly follow US and world news, while being equally comfortable laughing with friends and tending bar as a second job. She set an example for her family and friends about hard work and independent determination. More than anything, she found joy in spoiling her grandchildren and watching them grow into strong, kind, young adults.

Visiting hours will be held at Douglass Funeral Home, 51 Worthen Road, Lexington on Monday, November 21, 4 pm-7 pm, and a funeral service celebrating her life will be held at the same on Tuesday, November 22 at 10 am. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to share this special time with us. Interment at Westview Cemetery, Lexington with a reception following. In lieu of flowers, donations in Phyllis' name can be made to JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund) in pursuit of a cure for Type 1 Diabetes, a cause near and dear to her heart, by visiting http://www2.jdrf.org/goto/phyllisferlinz or mail to 60 Walnut Street, Wellesley, MA 02481.