Phyllis Schleifer

Born on August 8, 1941, Phyllis Schleifer, 83, of Chestnut Ridge, NY, formerly of Park Ridge, NJ, passed away peacefully at home in the Fellowship Community on March 10, 2025, surrounded by loved ones. A devoted mother, grandmother, mother-in-law, daughter, sister, wife, neighbor, and friend, Phyllis faced life's challenges with resilience and chutzpah.

Born in the Bronx to Belle and Hy Surdin, Phyllis attended PS 76 and graduated as valedictorian from the High School of Industrial Art in Manhattan before earning a degree in Fine Art from Queens College. In 1960, she met her husband, Morty, in a photography school where he taught. They married in 1962, just before her 21st birthday. Later, the couple welcomed their daughters, Mia and Nina. She considered being a mother as one of her greatest accomplishments.

From a young age, Phyllis dreamed of living in a peaceful, countryside setting. She fulfilled that dream when she moved from Queens, NY to Park Ridge, NJ, where she enjoyed her home on Storms Avenue for 40 years. She became deeply connected to the Pascack Valley community and was a proud member of the Pascack Historical Society. In 2013, she embraced an even more pastoral life, moving to the Fellowship Community, a place she had long admired and volunteered at for many years.

Phyllis had a boundless curiosity and a passion for learning, reflected in her many hobbies, interests, volunteer work and article clippings on a vast array of topics. She was an avid fossil hunter with the Bergen County Mineralogy and Paleontology Society, a collector of postcards and buttons, a member of Hadassah, a participant in both Reformed Judaism and Unitarian Universalist congregations, and a dedicated Girl Scout leader. She found joy in creating-whether through jewelry making, candle crafting, painting, sculpture, or photography. She volunteered as a docent at the Bergen County Zoo, worked with hospice patients, supported nursing home residents, and had a deep love of humor, music, shell collecting, camping, hiking, reading and libraries. She also traveled extensively, visiting Israel, China, Europe, Morocco, and many national landmarks.

Her creativity and love of celebration were evident in the unforgettable themed birthday parties she planned for her daughters, as well as her own milestone celebrations, including a folk-dance party on 8/8/88, and a Beatles-themed sing-along party when she turned 64.

Phyllis also worked at the Park Ridge Post Office, served as a Hospice Volunteer Coordinator at Holy Name Hospital, and later worked at the Plaza Regency Home in Park Ridge.

She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Morty, her parents, Belle and Hy, her brother, Dennis, and her cherished cat, Buster. She is survived by her loving daughters, Mia Schleifer and Nina (Swankie) Mitchell, her son-in-law Noah Mitchell, and her devoted grandson, William Swankie.

The family will welcome relatives and friends at a memorial service at the Fellowship Community, 241 Hungry Hollow Road, Chestnut Ridge, NY on Thursday, March 20 at 2PM with a reception to follow. For those not attending the memorial, condolence calls will be received at Mia's home on Saturday, March 22 in Brooklyn. Please contact Nina or Mia for details.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Rudolf Steiner Fellowship Foundation or United Hospice of Rockland.