Josephine Mari Phillips

Josephine Mari Phillips 93 years old passed peacefully surrounded by family on Dec 27th 2014 at her residence in Shorrock Gardens, Brick Township New Jersey. Born in 1921 in Plainfield NJ, Mari Josepha Calvi, "Josephine" was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother . Josephine attended St. Mary's School in Plainfield and was educated for secretarial and clerical work. As a young person Josephine first went to work at Cornell Dubilier Electronics which was located in South Plainfield NJ. There she met her husband to be of 71 years Stanley Phillips Jr. Stanley and Josephine were married in 1943 and during WWII she continued working at Cornell Dubilier supporting the war effort. Upon his return from WWII; Stanley and Josephine built a house in South Plainfield where they raised three children and lived for 42 years until their retirement in 1988. During her years in South Plainfield Josephine began her life of serving children by volunteering and working at the Sacred Heart School cafeteria. Known and loved by all students whom she served for generations of families attending the school. She was a devoted communicant of the Sacred Heart Church in South Plainfield and she was a reliable volunteer for their fund raising and school activities. Throughout her years of service to the community Josephine also supported her family and husband while he suffered a serious industrial accident in their early years of marriage. Later on she supported her husband during other trials when his job loss resulted in a new business venture that she then supported for 25 years. During those years in good times they traveled frequently often visiting family and friends as well as trips abroad. Josephine formally retired with her husband Stanley in 1988 building a water front home in Forked River NJ. They lived there for 25 years creating new friendships through the Tuna Club of Forked River and new friends connected to her husband's Marine Corp reunions. Through those years Josephine and her husband continued to support their family and grandchildren traveling and attending athletic events, recitals, school, college and many family related activities. Josephine was a devout Catholic and was a communicant of St. Pius Church in Forked River. Josephine is survived by her husband of 71 years Stanley Phillips Jr., her devoted daughters Barbara and husband Bill Venet of Toms River, Anne "Peg" Phillips of New York City, her son Stanley Phillips III and wife Beverly Phillips of Annandale NJ. Josephine leaves 5 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. Josephine's visitation will be held on Friday, Jan. 2nd from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9PM at the South Plainfield Funeral Home, 2456 Plainfield Ave., South Plainfield, NJ. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday at 10 AM at the Church of the Sacred Heart in South Plainfield. Her entombment will follow in Holy Redeemer Cemetery Mausoleum in South Plainfield. In lieu of flowers donations may be sent in Josephine's name to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America, 322 8th Ave. #700, New York, NY 10001, www.alzfdn.org., or Southern Ocean Hospice Care, 1140 Route 72 W., Manahawkin, NJ 08050 www.southernoceanmedicalcenter.com.