Barbara (“Barb”/ “Mom”/ “Mama”/ “MAH!”/ “Mamma P”/ “The God Pigeon”/ “Armpit Mom”/ “BRP”/ “Boo”) R. Phillips 67, passed away peacefully on Tuesday April 18 th , 2017 with family and loved ones by her side.
Mom first said hi to the world on June 30 , 1949 in Berwyn, Illinois. She grew up there with her parents, Al and Ruth, her sister Judy and brother Tom. She spent a great deal of her life in and around Chicago (lucky Chicagoans!), attending college at nearby Illinois State and the University of Illinois.
In 1967, she was set-up on a blind date with a skinny and (admittedly) nerdy fellow teenager from nearby Westchester. Miniature Golf was the activity of choice on their first date, which would turn out to be the first of many, many more over the next 50 years (yes you are reading that number correctly =) ). Barb married that tall skinny man in question, Paul P. Phillips on August 29 th , 1971.
Barb began her teaching career on the south side of Chicago, working hard to help Paul get through Law School. Eventually they bought a house and settled in Highland Park…and then the REAL fun began. Adam was born on August 10, 1975 in Highland Park and Chris followed suit on March 10, 1979. Jourdan completed the set on June 1, 1982.
Professionally, she taught French, Spanish and many other subjects but her real talent, her forte was in teaching Gifted Education. In a teaching career that spanned close to 4 decades, she positively affected the lives of so many kids through her work at schools in Chicago, Wadsworth and Highland Park. She got her Master’s Degree in Education, completed specialized training in Gifted Education and achieved National Board Certification in Education.
In her rich and full personal life she always brought zest, passion and laughter to everything and everyone. An avid cook, travel nut, voracious reader, cheesy-joke lover and big time movie fan; there wasn’t anything she would not try.
She was a member of St. Patrick's Parish in Wadsworth, Illinois and later Our Lady of the Assumption in Ventura, California.
The amazing life she lived will carry on through her family. She lives on through her husband Paul, her son Adam and his wife Stephanie along with her grandkids Nathan and Katelin; her son Chris and his wife Faleshia, and her daughter Jourdan and her boyfriend Matt. She is also survived by her sister Judy and her family (husband Bob and kids Alyson, Kim and Eric) and her brother Tom and his family (wife Dianne and kids Sarah and Lauren) along with their extended families! She also leaves with memorable and long-lasting friendships with Kathy & Helmuth Fendel, Suzanne & Dan Rafftery and Sharon and Harold London…among so many others.
Family and friends, (near and far!), are invited to come and say hi & bye to her on Friday April 28 th from 5 to 9pm at the JOSEPH P. REARDON FUNERAL HOME, 757 E. Main Street Ventura, where a vigil prayer service will be held at 8pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be officiated by Fr. Leon Hutton on Saturday April 29, 2017 at 1pm in Our Lady of the Assumption Roman Catholic Church, 3175 Telegraph Road, Ventura.