Our mother, Nancy Phillips, 98, passed away peacefully in her sleep on April 1st at Bay Path Nursing Home in Duxbury, Massachusetts with her five daughters nearby. She was the wife of the late Foster Phillips.
Nancy was born on February 6, 1926 in Chicago, Illinois to the late Axel and Joyce Gravem. She lived her early years in Pelham, NY; Chevy Chase, MD; Santiago, Chile and in Orleans. Nancy graduated from Walnut Hill Preparatory School and attended Vassar College.
She married our father, Eldredge Sparrow, in 1944 and they lived in Orono, Maine while he attended the University of Maine. Like many of his young classmates he served during World War II. After graduation they moved back to South Orleans where Nancy was a homemaker for many years while also being very active in the community.
Later she remarried and lived in Mexico and New Hampshire before settling in Dennis and then Brewster where she lived for many years. Nancy and Foster opened La Bodega in Dennis, a women’s clothing store that had a special Latin American flair. Later they added a store at Lemon Tree Village in Brewster. She and Foster were dedicated members of First Parish Unitarian Church in Brewster, serving on countless committees and contributing to many social causes. Nancy lived a most exciting, active and varied life, affecting many. She was known for always speaking her mind and participating in many events, rallies and assorted causes. She was very spiritual and a firm believer in astrology and wrote astrological charts for many family members. She hosted a regular Sunday evening “Quote Group” and will always be remembered for her wonderful odes. She especially enjoyed their winter vacations in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.
Surviving Nancy are her five daughters. Sandy Fields (John), Judy Wilkinson (Bob), Pam Nickerson (Stu), Elizabeth Murphy (Dennis) and Amy Neveu (Dennis), 12 grandchildren; Kelli, Katie, Danny, Abby, Seth, Hamish, Patrick, Brendan, Andy, Hayley, Amanda and Alison, 15 great grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and her sister-in-law Jay Gravem. She was predeceased by her sister Pamela Chisholm and her brother Hamish Gravem.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to the First Parish Unitarian Church in Brewster, or to a charity of your choice.
A memorial service for Nancy Phillips will be held at First Parish Brewster Unitarian Church on Sunday September 22 at 1:00pm.
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