Carole Phillips

of Hillcrest

Carole W. Phillips (91) passed away peacefully at her home on Monday, July 9, 2018 after a brief illness. Carole was born August 12, 1926 in Johnson City, NY where she grew up and graduated from Johnson City High School in the infamous class of 1944 where she proudly cheered for the Wildcats Football team.

She then attended State Teacher’s College in Cortland (SUNY Cortland) where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education in 1948. She later returned to SUNY Cortland to receive a Master’s degree in Reading and an Administrative Certificate. Carole married John E. Phillips in 1948, her childhood sweetheart whom she met on a bus to Chenango Valley State Park when she was 15. They experienced a wonderful 42 year marriage until John’s death in 1990.

She is survived by her son and daughter in law, Brad and Kathy Phillips; granddaughter, Sarah Phillips(Andrew); grandson, John Phillips; several cousins, nieces and nephews. Carole achieved many accomplishments and gladly gave her free time to others throughout her lifetime. She taught elementary school for over 35 years, retiring from Chenango Valley School District after 31 years of service at Port Dickinson Elementary. She also taught sewing classes on Saturday mornings and Sunday School. She tutored a multitude of students throughout her career on her own time and often in the child’s home. Carole, “Pudgie” was a most avid SUNY Cortland supporter, having generously contributed to the SUNY Cortland Foundation Campaign and established a perpetual endowment scholarship in her name to assist future elementary school teachers studying at Cortland. She served on the Alumni Board of Directors for several years. She also served on the Board of the Hillcrest Civic Association for decades, serving as President and was also named Civic Leader of the Year as Mrs. Hillcrest. She was also on the board of Fenton Free (Moody Memorial) Library. She and John served as co-chairs of the Broome County March of Dimes. Carole and John also belonged to several clubs in the area including the Cadence Dance Club and were famously known as the “great jitterbuggers”. They were also members of the Triple Cities Ski Club.

Carole was a lifelong Broome County Republican Party Committee Person and was appointed to the Eisenhower Commission of the National Republican Committee by former Presidents Ford, Reagan and Bush. She proudly attended the second presidential inauguration of Ronald Reagan. Carole and John were world travelers, visiting numerous foreign countries in 6 of the 7 continents where she always distributed pencils and other educational materials to students greeting their tour bus. Carole had a great passion for entertaining wherever she happened to be; whether it was throwing an impromptu cocktail party for fellow tour members in a foreign country or Hilton Head, Florida or Oquaga Lake where most parties began at 11 am! Nobody made a better Manhattan than Pudgie! Her family would like to thank Dr. Susan Choi for her decades of caring, compassionate and excellent medical care and friendship. We would also like to thank Pudgie’s wonderful caregivers over the past 4 years and especially her current caregivers Sam, Mary, Jessica, Michelle and Caitlin. Their focus on her comfort and quality of life allowed Pudgie to so happily remain in her home in Hillcrest and enjoy many wonderful outings to the movies, “happy hours”, and even their homes. We thank them for their loving touch in everything they did for our Mom. Pudgie’s unique philosophy of life was illustrated in how she conducted herself. She believed in living life fully and with great joy. She shared her views on finances, education, and marriage and love (all her greatest passions) with her friends and family at every gathering. She was a blessed mom, grandmother, aunt and friend and she will be greatly missed. Our biggest consolation is that she is blissfully dancing the jitterbug with her beloved Johnny.

She was a lifelong member of Ogden Hillcrest Methodist Church. A Funeral service will be held there on Saturday, July 14th at 12:00 noon, officiated by Pastor Joyce Allen, followed by burial at Chenango Valley Cemetery. Family and friends are invited to calling hours at Chase Funeral Home in Hillcrest on Friday July 13, 2018 from 4-6 pm. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Carole Wilsey Phillips ’48 Scholarship. SUNY Cortland Division of Institutional Advancement Brockway Hall, Room 309-8 P.O. Box 2000 Cortland, NY 13045-0900