Phyllis passed away peacefully at the Campbellton Regional Hospital on February 24th 2020 after a debilitating battle with frontotemporal dementia and complications from a recent hip replacement surgery.
Phyllis was born on July 16, 1933, the third of five children born to Stan and Grace (Bustard) Hayes of East Saint John NB. She was predeceased by her devoted husband, her partner of 63 years, the late Reverend Ralph MacKenzie ( November 28th 2019).
Phyllis grew up in East Saint John. She attended teachers college although her dream was to become a nurse like her older sister Eileen. Her talents were many but her love of learning and education led her to pursue many university night courses and attend numerous summer school sessions, as often & as many as she could possibly fit into her busy life of mother, teacher and minister’s wife. She eventually earned her Bachelor’s degree and later two masters degrees, all from the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton.
Phyllis was an educator at heart. She taught in Ontario until the family moved to Dalhousie in 1972 to live closer to Bob & Inez MacKenzie. There she became a much loved teacher at the Notre Dame School and later at the Dalhousie Regional HIgh School, up until she made the decision to retire early.
Ralph and Phyllis moved to Atholville where they lived for 20 years until taking up residence together at the Manoir Sugarloaf. Declining health led Phyllis to spend her last year at the Manoir de la Vallee with Ralph by her side.
Phyllis firmly believed in God and family. She was immensely proud of her son, Gordon MacKenzie ( Barrie Ontario) and her grandchildren, Stephanie and Alex who brought her great joy. She had a very special relationship with her granddaughter Melanie (Notre Dame NB) and adored her great grandson Connor with all her heart.
Phyllis is survived by her children Heather (Ross) MacKenzie Crimo (Irishtown, NB) and Gordon MacKenzie; grandchildren Melanie, Stephanie and Alex Mackenzie: great grandsons Connor, Caiden and William MacKenzie; brother Walter (Joan) Hayes and sister Eileen Young of Saint John NB ; as well as several nieces and nephews; she was predeceased by her sister Doreen (Glendon) Jones and brother Roland (Dede) Hayes.
She is now peacefully resting in the presence of our Lord. Phyllis will have a graveside funeral in the spring at the New Mills Cemetery to be announced at a later date.
The family respectfully declines flowers and would appreciate a donation be made to the Alzheimer Society of Canada to fund further research into the causes and a cure for Alzheimer’s disease & other dementias. https://alzheimer.ca/en/Home/Get-involved/Ways-to-donate.
Goodbye is not forever,
Goodbye is not the end,
It simply means I’ll miss you,
Until we meet again.
Funeral arrangements are in the care of Maher's Funeral Home, Campbellton
(506)789-1699 or toll free (855) 404-1699 email: [email protected]
DONATIONS
Alzheimer Society of New BrunswickP.O. Box 1553, Fredericton, NB E3B 5G2
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