Phyllis Stoleroff

Phyllis Lee Stoleroff, née Lieberman, passed away during the evening of July 14, 2025 at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts accompanied by her children. She lived a long and sometimes adventurous life as a devoted wife, doting mother, loving grandmother, dedicated special education teacher, constant gardener, amateur flautist, always involved with family and friends and socially engaged in her communities.

Born in Brooklyn, New York in 1932, a happy first generation Jewish American, she was blessed with two sisters and a very large extended family. Her numerous cousins, almost all whom settled within the New York metropolitan area, would remain amongst her best friends throughout life.

She attended Brooklyn College, but then following the conscription of her husband, Albert, spent the two years of the Korean War in Maryland at Aberdeen Proving Grounds where she gave birth to her first child, her son. Upon Albie’s discharge from the army, the family returned to Brooklyn and had their second child, a daughter. Benefiting from the GI bill the family acquired a split level house in Bellmore, New York on Long Island, where her third child, another daughter quickly arrived.

Phyllis loved the house in Bellmore, with its little property that provided her space for a flower garden. She was immersed in the neighborhood and made lifelong friendships with neighbors. As the children grew up, she began substitute teaching and eventually returned to school to receive a masters and then teach Special Education, through which she brought her caring nature to assist her young students find their paths in life.

Given the changes in New York’s economy in the 1970s, the family relocated across the George Washington Bridge to Woodcliff Lake in Bergen County, New Jersey. There she continued her profession as a Special Education teacher at Ramapo High School. Her new house gave plenty of opportunities for gardening.

Following early retirements, Phyllis and Albie used their home as a base and began their two decades career of traveling the roads of North America in their treasured trailer, their second home. Each season they would spend months as volunteers in national and state parks in return for parking and camping rights. Of course, she made new friends wherever they went.

Following Albie’s death and with advancing age, an entirely new phase of her life began. She sold the house and began a new life-chapter in January 2021 by moving to the Brown House Senior Living residence in Brookline, Massachusetts. There she planted rose trees, a new garden in her allotted box and in a short time, created a loving community of new friends and neighbors.

A funeral service will be held at Sinai Chapels, located at 114-03 Queens Blvd, Forest Hills, NY, 11375, on July 17, 2025, from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm. The service will be available via live stream at https://fweb.tv/189867.

A committal service will follow at Wellwood Cemetery, 1500 Wellwood Ave, West Babylon, NY, 11704, on the same day from 2:00 pm to 2:45 pm.