Pauline Phillips Root

Pauline Phillips Root returned home to be with her Lord on March 24, 2025 after a life lived to its fullest.
Pauline was born January 29, 1924, in Woodhull, N.Y. to parents Charles B. Phillips of Addison, N.Y. and Ruth Mae Cummins of Woodhull, N.Y.
She is survived by daughters, Constance McCarrick of Addison, N.Y. and Cherlyn Davis Croucher (Melvin) of Delray Beach, FL; granddaughters Dawn McCarrick and Cheryl Bieren (James); great granddaughters Kiersten (Chris), Laura; and great great granddaughters Addison and Autumn of Massachusetts; and many nieces and nephews and their families.
Her Phillips family came to Addison in 1825 to relocate their family from Chenango County and previously Rhode Island. They built the first wooden bridge across the Canisteo River, a schoolhouse, and a mercantile store before bringing their families by barge to Addison. She is the sixth generation in her Phillips line to be buried in the Addison Cemetery.
Pauline was raised on one of the four Phillips farms on Goodhue Hill Road. As a child, she walked a mile to the Phillips District one-room schoolhouse in all types of weather, and transitioned to Addison Central High School, graduating in 1940 at the age of 16. She is the last surviving member of her class.
Her father, Charles B. Phillips, owned Phillips Dairy Store at 34 Main Street in Addison, as an outlet for his dairy farm produce and products five miles away. After WWII, Pauline and her husband Bill purchased the store, then known as THE TASTY SHOP, and operated it for nearly 25 years. It was the hang-out for shopkeepers coffee and lunch breaks as well as students coming for lunch, meeting friends, playing the juke box, having a cherry coke, malted milk shake or banana split after school. Pauline kept the store open on basketball game nights late, until the buses returned with celebrating students. Over the years, she taught many high school youngsters about work ethics, in what was their first job.
After retiring from managing THE TASTY SHOP in the 1960s, she transitioned from living in the apartment over their store, to a beautiful new home she and her husband, Bill, built on Goodhue Hill Rd, with their new baby to care for and two grandchildren to enjoy. Later, an opportunity arose to work at the Addison Central School doing their payroll processing for ten years before retiring.
In the 1970s she became aware of Mary Kay Cosmetics and after having a free facial, retired from her very nice school job to join this direct sales company with so much promise. She quickly moved up the ranks to Director, having such experience in meeting and hiring people at the TASTY SHOP. She met many wonderful people who joined her in this endeavor, and received three pink Cadillacs during her successful tenure with Mary Kay.
She also earned her securities licenses and sold mutual funds, working for a local company during the 1980s.
After her husband Bill passed in 1987, she and her youngest son, Bruce, obtained their Florida real estate licenses and worked together at RE-MAX. Upon returning north for the summer, she obtained her NYS real estate license and worked at Callahan & Hooey Realtors until age 88.
In 1990, she discovered a wonderful family-owned company in Utah, now named MODERE, who manufactures their own natural, multinational health and beauty products, with the main emphasis on having no harmful ingredients, well ahead of their time. Shes been with them ever since.
Pauline was active in The First Presbyterian Church of Addison, N.Y. since joining in 1934; she held every position (except organist), some several times, over her 91 years as a member there. She was actively serving as a member of Session at 101 years old when she joined the Lord.
Over the years, she was an active member of the OES, Organization of Eastern Stars, and member of the Onwentsia Chapter DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution).
Pauline was an avid and excellent golfer, playing winters in Port Richey, FL where she and Bill owned a condo; and at the Pinnacle State Park in Addison summers while it remained open. She played in Florida until age 91, when spending winters with her daughter and son-in-law.
Pauline was pre-deceased by her husband William R. Root and sons Dr. William Root and Bruce Root; her parents; and siblings Beverly Hallett, Shirley Phillips, and Charles Phillips.
Calling Hours for Pauline will be held on Saturday, June 7, 2025, from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm at the Addison Presbyterian Church, located at 5 Church Street in Addison, NY. A Memorial Service will be held at the same location at 2:00 pm, followed by a committal service immediately following at the Addison Rural Cemetery on Maple Street.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to The First Presbyterian Church of Addison, P.O. Box 212, Addison, NY 14801, or a charity of your choice in her name.
The family has entrusted her care to Flint Funeral Home, Addison, NY.
Service Details
Visitation
When
Saturday, June 7th, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Location
Addison Presbyterian Church
Address
5 Church St.
Addison, New York 14801
Memorial Service
When
Saturday, June 7th, 2025 2:00pm
Location
Addison Presbyterian Church
Address
5 Church St.
Addison, New York 14801
Interment
When
Saturday, June 7th, 2025 3:00pm
Location
Addison Rural Cemetery
Address
Maple Street
Addison, New York 14801 To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Pauline Phillips Root, please visit our Tree Store.