Phyllis Ann Bilowz

Phyllis Ann (née Coffey) Bilowz died peacefully on August 15, 2025 with family by her side. Phyllis was born in Somerville MA on September 8, 1938. She was the only child of Annette (née Lawson) and Arthur Coffey. She was married to Walter Bilowz for 54 years. She is survived by her children, Brian and his wife Amy, Peter and his wife Linda, Stacie Siwik and her husband Douglas and her step-children Craig and his wife Gail and Gregory and his wife Ann. She also leaves 6 grandchildren Hannah, Joshua and Noah Bilowz, William and Brooke Bilowz and Jacob Siwik.

Phyllis attended MaryCliff Academy in Winchester and earned her college degree from Salve Regina, both of which she talked about fondly and met many of her closest friends. She went on to earn a masters degree in English at Boston State School and became a teacher. She loyally taught in Wilmington MA for the duration of her career pausing for several years to be a stay at home mother.

Before marrying, she had many adventures. She travelled throughout Europe. She also loved to ski and talked about her times up north at Killington, Vt. She acted and sang in local musicals. She met her husband Walter in Chatham MA in the summertime at the then local favorite, the Sou’Wester. Phyllis relished cape summers: swimming, boating, fishing and sunning on the beach as well as cookouts with family and friends.

Phyllis loved to have a good time and was the life of the party. Her laugh was contagious. She loved to sing with Walter while he played the ukulele. She was always organizing or participating in some kind of club (mother of twins club, bridge club, gourmet club, book club) and she enthusiastically supported her husband in his legal career and his political pursuits. She was a dedicated wife, mother and grandmother. Although she had no siblings, she was very close to her cousins and eager to plan the next family reunion. Phyllis was a practicing Catholic all her life but also she enjoyed attending Cape Cod Bible Church in Harwich MA.

Phyllis eventually retired to Chatham and became very involved in the community. She was a concierge at Chatham Bars Inn part time for several years, which suited her well as no one knew the nightlife and best restaurants in Chatham and the surrounding area better than Phyllis. Some of her closest friends also retired to the cape and they saw each other often. Her children and grandchildren love the cape just as much and spend a lot of time there in the summer. The Chatham home became the gathering place which made her very happy.

Phyllis will be sorely missed by friends and family. Her life was a gift and now may she rest in peace.

A combined funeral and memorial service will be held at Nickerson Funeral Home for Phyllis Bilowz and Walter Bilowz at 87 Crowell Rd, Chatham on Monday August 25th. Visitation will be at 10 am, funeral will be at 10:30am followed by a burial and a reception.

In Lieu of flowers donations can be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.