Phyllis Roberta Papile

Phyllis Roberta Papile died peacefully at her home in Manakin-Sabot, Virginia on March 27, 2006. Surrounded by her loving family, she taught yet one more lesson that love and compassion, combined with a quiet strength and dignity, can gracefully guide us through any adversity. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, she grew up on the shores of Quincy Bay in Massachusetts. She graduated from Thayer Academy in Braintree, Massachusetts in 1944 and attended Boston University. In 1947, she married James D. Papile, and together they raised a family and served their country in the Army. She, like many others, gave honor to the term "Army wife" and taught her children the respect, discipline and love that bonded them through their many journeys. As the Army posts and countries blended together, her life was marked by her desire for new experiences, new friends and cherished memories. As the last assignment brought them to Delmar, N.Y., she proudly considered herself an "upstater" for the next 17 years as she embraced all the region had to offer, most of all the people she met and grew to love. Retirement brought them to the end of the journey in Richmond, Virginia as she settled into a life enjoying time spent with family, new-found friends and visits from old friends. Through all her travels, her roots remained firmly planted in the New England soil, her soul never strayed far from Fenway Park, and her heart forever beat to the pulse of the waves of Adams Shore. She was predeceased by her husband of 48 years, and her parents, Roy and Margaret Allen. She is survived by her children, Lyn McDermid and her husband, Michael, of Richmond, Va., the Reverend James A. Papile and his wife, Kay Evans, of Reston, Va., Christopher R. Papile and his wife, Veronica Weymouth, of Newport News, Va., David A. Papile and his wife, Barbara, of Reston, Va., and Anthony M. Papile and his wife, Kathleen Jonas-Papile, of Delmar, N.Y. She is also survived by her sister, Jean Shelton and her husband, Paul, of Baldwin, N.Y. She leaves behind twelve devoted grandchildren, and six and a half loving great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at Holy Comforter Episcopal Church on Thursday, March 30, 2006 at 5 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please honor her love of books with a donation to the Rockville Public Library, 16600 Pouncey Tract Road, Rockville, Va. 23146, or her compassionate spirit with a donation to Doctors Without Borders, P.O. Box 1856, Merrifield, Va. 22116. Weymouth Funeral Home of Newport News, Va. is handling the arrangements. A reception will follow the service at the home of Bobby Papile.