Obituary of Marie Phillips

The family of Marie Phillips is saddened to announce her passing on October 15, 2020. We were blessed to have a wonderful, loving mother.  

Nellie Marie Swan was born on December 22, 1924 in Ashfield Township to Jack and Lena (England) Swan. She was one of seven children. At the age of 14, she ventured to Wingham to get a job. She was a waitress at Howard and Effie Sherbondy’s restaurant and then a housekeeper for Mrs. Adam Johnston on Victoria Street.

Marie met Leonard John Phillips, a young man from West Wawanosh Township, and they were married on July 25, 1945. They were blessed with three children: Mary, John, and Jayne.

She and Leonard purchased 131 Diagonal Road in July 1952 and Marie continued to live there after Leonard’s passing until September 2008. Marie loved her blue home and worked extremely hard to make it a welcoming place for her family and friends. She was a very good cook and good with her hands; knitting, sewing and quilting were her favourite crafts.

Marie devoted her time and talents to her community and church. She was a volunteer with the Wingham and District Hospital Auxiliary for over 60 years. In 1995, she received a Life Membership to the Ontario Hospital Auxiliary at the Royal York Hotel in Toronto.

St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Wingham was Marie’s second home. She served on the Board of Managers and was president of Goforth WMS and the Ladies Aid.

Marie loved to have good fun with a wide circle of friends. She and Leonard would go dancing on Saturday nights and, in later years, they curled and made more good friends there. She loved to play any kind of cards, though Bridge was her favourite. After Leonard passed in 2003, she often played 3 to 4 times a week. Her fun-loving nature made her overbid hands but she quite often would make her contract.

She leaves her children: Mary and Murray McLean, Wingham; John and Margot Phillips, Cobourg; and Jayne Ross and Keith White, Brussels. She is survived by 11 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren. She is also survived by her sisters, Dorothea Craig and Betty Cook and sister-in-law, Eleanor Swan as well as many nieces and nephews. She will be lovingly remembered by Annette Solly and Eric Ross. She is predeceased by Leonard, her husband of 57 years, her parents, siblings Harry Swan, Iona Middleton, William Swan and Robert Swan, brothers-in-law, Harry Middleton, Willis Craig and Ivan Cook and sisters-in-law Margaret Swan and Donna Swan.

The family would like to thank the staff at Nine Mile Villa in Lucknow for their care and friendship during her five years there and also the staff of Braemar Nursing Home for their care and support during the past 10 months. 

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, a private service will be held at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Wingham on Saturday, October 17^th, 2020 with Reverend Larry Skinner officiating. A recording of the service can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/nGSoydWWZDQ. Interment will take place in Wingham Cemetery.

The family gratefully declines flowers; however, if you wish to make a donation in memory of Marie, donations to St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Wingham or the Wingham & District Hospital would be appreciated as expressions of sympathy.