Mrs. Helene M. Phillips

Helene was born in Detroit, MI on November 11, 1921, the daughter of late Anna Susan & Roy McBride. She graduated as Valedictorian from Santa Rita High School in 1940. She attend Iowa State but left to serve her country in the US Navy during WW-II. She was stationed at Treasure Island, San Francisco as a Chieftain and it is there that she caught the eye of Jack Phillips. They were married in Detroit, MI, on October 15, 1946, and were together for 62 years until Jack passed away in 2009. Helene was a great supporter of her husband’s careers as a professional major league baseball player and collegiate coach at Clarkson University. While he played in the Major Leagues and managed in the Minors, Helene often travelled with their young family to be close to Jack. An avid sportsman herself, Helene enjoyed golfing, bowling, and cross-country skiing among many others sports. She was a long time member of the Potsdam Golf and Country Club, where she won numerous titles including Club Champion and for many years played on the Club’s six-woman team. Helene was a devoted mother to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was a great inspiration to them, both on the sport fields and in the classroom. She was always on the sidelines silently cheering her children and later in life, her grandchildren. She was self-taught in many subjects and shared her enthusiasm for learning with her family, always encouraging them to be the very best they could be. Helene loved the outdoors and spent many hours in her garden and walking the property she shared with her family on the May Road in Potsdam, NY. She loved to antique and with her own hands brought back to life many treasures left behind by others. Later in life, after the children had graduated from college, Helene fulfilled her need to help students by working at Clarkson University’s student center. Although a quiet woman, Helene was a strong and steady influence to her family. Her kind and gentle ways will be sadly missed by all who knew her, especially her family.

Helene is survived by her three daughters, Susan (Charles) Ball of South Jordan, UT, Sharon (Douglas) Mohns of Hanover, MA, Patricia (Michael) Roberts of Chelsea, MI, and two daughters in law, Karen Phillips of East Aurora, NY and Miki Berg of Cohasset, MA. She is also survived by 13 grandchildren; Christopher Ball and Katherine (Ball) Choury, Jennifer and Rebecca Mohns, Michael and Patrick Roberts, and Amy, Becky (Freeman), Brian, Carol, Lindsay (Harris), Erik and Sara Phillips and 6 great grandchildren. She was predeceased in death by her husband Jack, and two sons, Michael, and John (Jack).

Mass of Christian burial for Helene will be held at 11am, Saturday, January 24, 2015 at St. Mary’s Church in Potsdam, NY with Msgr. Robert Aucoin, celebrant. A reception will immediately follow. Friends may call at Garner Funeral Service on Friday, January 23, 2015 from 4–7pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Jack Phillips Stadium at Snell Field @ Clarkson University, P.O. Box 5515 Potsdam, NY 13699. Online condolences can be shared at www.garnerfh.com.