LYNN - Herbert George Phinney, Jr., a native of Lynn, Massachusetts, returned to his Lord and Savior on March 20, 2019. He was born on the kitchen table at 6:20 p.m. at 56 Hanover St., during a raging snow storm, on a Tuesday in the Winter of 1935. His Aunt Nellie was the nurse and Dr. Rafferty had to stay overnight because of the severity of the storm. He was educated in St. Mary’s Schools and Graduated in 1953 from St. Mary’s Boy’s High School. He enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve for 8 Years in 1952 and rose to the rank of Electrician Technician 3rd class.
Herb worked as a grocer for the Stop and Shop Supermarket from 1957 to 1997. He started off bagging orders for customers and worked his way through every position in the store. Attaining Grocery Manager at age 21, he managed several stores in cities from Melrose to Gloucester.
Family was everything to Herb throughout his life and the more that could gather together the merrier. Every summer he would gather the immediate and extended family for a large 4th of July cookout. Herb also enjoyed family vacations every year during the first two weeks of August, when he would take the family to White Lake in New Hampshire. History was his favorite pastime. One year the family spent a vacation traveling around and visiting all the Civil War Sites. Later in life family vacations were all about visiting the “Montana Phinney’s.” During one of the visits to Montana, Herb even insisted that the family travel around and visit the historical sites there, as well as Glacier National Park.
Herb became a member of the Quarter Century Club in 1977. His hobbies in life were Photography, Coin Collecting and Genealogy. He also volunteered in the Boy Scouts of America for 27 years as the Assistant Scout Master of troop #28, Neighborhood Commissioner, District Advancement Chairman and District Chairman for the Ironworks District of the North Bay Council. During the same 27 years he volunteered at the Catholic Committee on Scouting, the Arch-Diocese of Boston, where he spent several years as the Emblems Chairman and later became the Chairman of the Committee until 1991. For his efforts and time he was presented with the Bronze Pelican Award, the St. George Medal, the Silver Buffalo Award and the Silver Beaver Award.
Herb also served at St. Mary’s Parish for 5 years as Lector, 10 years as Eucharistic Minister and taught for 17 years for the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine Program. He also served for several years on the Spiritual Development Committee and the Parish Council.
Herb is survived by his wife Annette Westcott (Thistle) `Phinney of Lynn, MA with whom he shared 64 years of marriage; his son, Herbert Phinney, III and his wife, Neidra of Vaughn, MT, daughters Donna Marie Phinney and Theresa Anne Phinney of Lynn, MA, his sisters, Frances Claire Graves of Saco, ME, Susan Marie Palata of Lynn. MA; his 6 grandchildren, Herbert Phinney, IV and his wife, Joey of Holladay, Utah, Patricia Fuentes and her husband, Hector of Bakersfield, CA, Christopher Phinney and his wife, Lori of Anchorage AK, Katie Matz and her husband, Brandon and Jonathan Phinney and his wife, Rosi, all of Great Falls, MT, and Nathaniel Phinney and his wife, Aubrey of Idaho Falls, ID, and 17 Great Grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Herbert George Phinney, Sr, and Mary Gertrude (Ryan) Phinney and his siblings, Norma Laurino, Donald Phinney, and Charles Phinney.
Visiting hours will be held at Cuffe-McGinn Funeral Home, 157 Maple St. Lynn on Monday, March 25th from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. His funeral will be held from the funeral home on Tuesday, March 26th, at 9:30 a.m followed at 10:30 a.m. by a Funeral Mass at St. Mary Church, Lynn. Burial will follow in Pine Grove Cemetery, Lynn. The family requests all floral arrangements without Lilly, due to allergy. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to Catholic Charities, 117 N Common St, Lynn, MA 01902 or via www.ccab.org. To share a memory or leave online condolences, please visit www.cuffemcginn.com.
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