Phyllis A. DeMars passed away at home on February 23, 2022, after living courageously with cancer for over a decade. Phyllis was born August 8, 1955 to the late Peter J. and Constance Cracchiolo. She grew up in Grosse Pointe, Michigan and graduated from Grosse Pointe North High School in 1973. She furthered her education at Wayne State University where she received a Bachelor of Science in special education. She married Gregory J. DeMars in 1980 and together they raised 3 children in Grosse Pointe.
Phyllis was an exceptional teacher, focusing on early reading intervention and learning disabilities. She initially taught at Our Lady Queen of Peace and then at Our Lady Star of the Sea for over 20 years. During this time, she founded the Enrichment Center, which helped many children achieve academic success and served as a model for local schools to develop similar programs. Phyllis was an accomplished artist who produced many oil paintings, along with playing the piano and organ.
Phyllis was a devoted Catholic, attending weekly mass and spending many hours in prayer and religious study. She lived God’s work daily by volunteering in the community, pursuing philanthropy, and caring for those around her. Increasing access to Catholic school education was very important to her, as she supported De La Salle and Regina High Schools and Our Lady Star of the Sea and Most Holy Trinity Schools.
She was committed to leaving this world and community a better place. She and her husband started The DeMars Family Endowment Against Human Trafficking and The DeMars Family Endowed Scholarship for Regina High School Students. She was a long-time board member of the Fontbonne Auxiliary of St. John Hospital, a docent at the Solanus Casey Center and the Detroit Historical Society, and previously on the boards at the Italian American Cultural Society and the Northeast Guidance Center for mental health services.
Phyllis was a proud mother to Gregory M. DeMars (Melissa), Sara Harrison (Michael), and Bethany Matus (Alex). Her grandchildren were her greatest joy: Colette and Matteo DeMars; Lucas, Marcus, and Natalie Harrison; and Owen, Everett, and Ashton Matus. She is also survived by her siblings Bernadette Lindquist (Eric), Grace Cracchiolo-Torre (Anthony), Peter T. Cracchiolo (Camille), Nancy DeMars, and Carol Holmden (Dave), and many nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles, and cousins.
Visitation will be Sunday, February 27 from 3:00 to 8:00 p.m. at A.H. Peters Funeral Home, 20705 Mack Avenue at Vernier Road, Grosse Pointe Woods. The Holy Rosary will be recited at 7:00 p.m.
Her body will lie instate at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church, 467 Fairford Road at Morningside, Grosse Pointe Woods from 9:00 a.m. Monday, February 28 until mass begins at 10:00 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to make donations to The DeMars Family Endowment Against Human Trafficking, Ascension St. John Foundation, 19251 Mack Avenue, Suite 102, Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236; The Fontbonne Auxiliary at St. John Hospital, 22201 Moross, PBII, Ste 450, Detroit, MI 48236; The DeMars Family Endowed Scholarship for Regina High School Students, Catholic Foundation of Michigan, 1145 West Long Lake Road, Suite 201, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302; or the Solanus Casey Center, 1780 Mt. Elliott Street, Detroit, MI 48207.
