Marlene C. Phillips

Marlene C. Phillips
On September 17, Marlene C. Phillips (87), also known as "Ski" left us to join her beloved late husband Terry almost one year to the day of when he passed away. Her daughter Jennifer and son in law Joe were with her at her bedside. Marlene and Terry were united and happily married for 63 years, a testament to their shared love.
Marlene was one of the true, last genuine ladies of her generation. Although she had the opportunity to, she chose to not have a cell phone, a computer, or an email. Rather Marlene still enjoyed handwritten letters, reading the daily newspaper, going to her local library to get her books she loved to read, and using the landline telephone to communicate regularly with her daughters, family, and friends.
Marlene was born on March 18,1936 in Muskegon Michigan and lived on the family farm in Shelby where she graduated from Shelby High School. Upon graduation from High School she moved to Chicago to be with her sister Virginia and brother-law Zeb where she was a secretary for Standard Oil. Soon Marlene met Terry on Albion Beach on Lake Michigan in Chicago. They were engaged 6 months later and married soon after. Terry's job in sales at Union Carbide transferred the family around the Midwest from Grand Rapids, MI., Indianapolis, IN., to St. Louis, MO., to Chicago, IL., Cleveland, OH.. Terry's last transfer was to New England, they made their home in Fairfield, CT. where they resided for 30 years.
While living in Fairfield, Marlene raised their 3 children Greg, Jennifer and Heather. She was a deaconess at the Greenfield Hill Church, a volunteer with Meals on Wheels, the Welcome Wagon, and the PTA at her children's schools. She enjoyed knitting, sewing, dinner theaters, reading, musicals and playing bridge. She was a "DIYer" (do it yourself) with home improvement projects before it was "IN". Marlene was not above climbing a ladder to their two story home to wash the windows, after sitting on the tractor to mow their three acres, after wallpapering a room, after making from a pattern, and sewing her daughter's first communion dress. She was always busy. She kept a flourishing vegetable garden on Fallow Field Lane with abundant tomato, snap peas, and zucchini plants, she also maintained her beautiful flower garden. Besides her family, Marlene loved cats, and even bred a couple litters of Himalayan and Siamese kittens and found them good homes for families to love.
Marlene and Terry made and kept many lifelong friends in Fairfield at the Patterson Club. They enjoyed playing tennis, paddle tennis, and golf. Marlene would often accompany Terry, who was VP of International Marketing for First Brands (which took over the Union Carbide Automotive Division and Glad Division), to work assignments throughout Europe and once to India. Marlene loved to travel and Terry brought her on a month long vacation to Tokyo, Bangkok, Yangon(Rangoon), Burma, Phuket, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong. Marlene and Terry also toured New Zealand, Australia, Alaska, St. Petersburg and 6 other countries. Marlene was also able to accompany Terry as VIP to many Indianapolis 500 and Daytona 500 car races.
Marlene and Terry moved to the Gulf Coast of Florida when Terry retired in 1996. They enjoyed living in Bonita Springs, Florida and resided in Bonita Bay for 26 years and made many new friends. They would go to their beach club together every Sunday, and were both active with their golf club. Marlene loved to play golf and even earned a trophy for getting a hole in one. Marlene always doted on her daughters, son in laws, and 3 grandchildren when they would visit. She was the sweetest, most gentle and loving mom, grandmother and wife. She was called "MarMar" by her grandchildren. She always thought of others before herself. Anyone that knew Marlene, knew how kind and nice she always was to others. She never had a bad word to say about anyone. Marlene leaves her family with treasured memories. "Mothers hold their children's hands for a while, but their hearts forever".
Marlene is survived by her daughter Jennifer Perry and husband Joe, their twin boys Dylan and Justin (17) of Shark River Hills, New Jersey, her daughter Heather Hora and her husband Derek and their son Jacob (18) of Teton Valley, Idaho. Her Nephews Michael and Terry Doran, Doug, Ward, and Mark Van Dam, Scott and Bruce Wesolowski and Lisa, Wehlou. She is preceded in death by her husband J. Terrille Phillips, her first born son J. Gregory Phillips, her parents Gladys and George Horton, her sisters Dorthy Van Dam and Virginia Wesolowski and her niece Leslie Wildrick. Sympathy cards can be sent to Jennifer Perry, 311 Helen Terrace, Neptune NJ and Heather Hora P.O. Box 761, Victor, Idaho 83455. Services will be private and a celebration of life will be held for both Marlene and her beloved Terry at a future date.