Phyllis Berman

Phyllis Berman, of Newton, MA passed away on Sunday, April 26, 2026.

She was a devoted mother to Michael and Jeffrey Wade. They were her biggest joy in life. She beamed with pride every time she spoke about them. She was known for her vibrant presence, and her unmistakable energy – she lit up every room she entered. She loved being in social settings and always looking forward to gatherings and spending time with friends and family. Phyllis found joy in life’s simple pleasures, including playing Scrabble and the piano. She will be fondly remembered for beginning many thoughts with, “My mother used to say…,” a reflection of how deeply she cherished her family’s influence. Even until the day she passed, she always asked if people were happy and healthy.

Phyllis was born to Frederick (“Papa Fred”) and Marion (“Mitzi”) Berman of Concord, NH in March 1948. She often spoke with admiration about her mother’s legendary piano playing and her dedication to teaching all the children how to play. She also took great pride in her family and its traditions, including the family business, Capital Plumbing and Heating Supply. Phyllis graduated from Vernon Court Junior College. She was predeceased in 2021 by her older brother, Harris.

Phyllis volunteered her time at The Home for Little Wanderers, a non-for-profit organization. She also had a deep appreciation for the organization, Jewish Big Brothers and Big Sisters.

In the early 2000s, Phyllis met Barry Berman on Jdate, with whom she shared an immediate and meaningful connection. They discovered many similarities from the start—from their shared last name to both having two older sons close in age, and even Labrador Retrievers with the same name, Saydee. Together, they shared a deep love for Boca Raton, FL, and cherished their time spent there. The loss of her beloved Barry just months ago was deeply felt, and she is now reunited with him.

Phyllis is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, Michael and Alexandra Wade of Sudbury, MA, and Jeffrey and Laurie Wade of Oceanside, NY. She also leaves behind four cherished grandchildren: Marisa, Austin, Zoey, and Emily.

A funeral service will take place on Thursday, April 30, 2026 at 10:30am at Levine Chapels, 470 Harvard Street, Brookline, MA. Burial will follow at Temple Emanuel of Andover Cemetery, 202 Mt. Vernon Street, Lawrence, MA.

Shiva will follow the burial at Michael & Alex’s home and will continue on Friday from 2 - 5pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in her name to Jewish Big Brothers and Big Sisters at www.jbbbs.org