I miss my beautiful cousin. I wish she had lived closer so we could have continued to “grow up” together.  I know you are resting in peace.

Phyllis was a pharmacy technician at St. Mark’s Hospital in Salt Lake City. I was a pharmacy intern. It was in the early eighties.  We worked together for three years. Kind, gentle and unassuming, Phyllis stood out among us. We were a small group of funny but loud, fantastic but sarcastic people--sometimes verging on cruel. But Phyllis was always steadfast in her tender demeanor. I was drawn to it; I found shelter in it. When our monthly work schedule was posted, after writing down my shifts, my eyes would travel down to “Phyllis” to see if my shifts coincided with hers. I liked it when she worked when I worked. I often planned my lunch breaks at the cafeteria when Phyllis took her lunch breaks at the cafeteria. She would pick a table in the far right corner, away from the crowd, and I would join. We would talk. I opened up to her. I shared my constant anxiety about the brutal civil war we were having in my country, Lebanon. We talked about life. And while I did most of the talking, her active listening was the engine of the conversation.
Phyllis had a crush on Sylvester Stallone. It must’ve been when one of his “Rocky” movies had come out. We were all talking about it at work. Some were pocking fun at Stallone’s acting. That was when she declared her attraction to him. (Don’t ask me how I still remember this some forty years later, but I do.) I also can’t remember whether her declaration had something to do with my starting to go to the weight room at the Field House, the university gym, to train my then-thin, bony body.
Our world needs more Phyllises. I’ll always have sweet memories of her.       


Phyllis and I met by phone, but I always felt there was a younger sister out there, some where and would make up stories about MY little sister.
      Speed ahead 65 years and oh my goodness! One of my cousines calls asking if I had ever thought I had a sibling? She proceeded to tell me about this woman who had traced our mother's family name and found my cousines who told her that our mother had passed, but her sister, Michele, was in Maine and gave her my number! I was in awe and that night I met my little sister.
      Reading your memories, sharing your love and joy of this beautiful soul has filled in so many of those lost years. Amazing experiences you all shared and I see and feel so much of our mother in Phyllis. As her birthday arrives on  Dec. 31, I'll be participating in  a Lobster Dip, or Roll for our Maine Special Olympian's fundraiser. 
      Please, stay in touch with me. I want to hear more stories and connect with you all. Thank you, all, for your kindness, care, blessings and love
toward my little sister, oh I turn 71 on May 31st., we are 19 months  apart. So nice to have a celebration where the world celebrates!!
      My sincerest sympathies, Bernie, Hans, Emma, family, friends and coworkers.
        Michele Danois




Phylis and I were school friends. I was glad to read that she found her biological family, family was always so important to her. She took the pictures for my wedding in 1975, photography was one of her interests back then. If I recall she had a VW bug and loved a good road trip. She seemed truly happy and found joy in the Lord.

Phyllis, my childhood friend, the bond we had was never broken.  Thank you for reaching out to me with love over the years.  Kathie

I'll never forget the time I traveled to Bremerton, Washington for a temporary job at Bremerton Shipyard. I was also on a quest to find my cousin Phyllis who I hadn't seen in years. I finally found her and her family and was overwhelmed by their kindness and joy in seeing me. It was the highlight of my journey! Got to meet Bernie and their son Hans, What a gift! 

They took me out to dinner and we shared some stories of our youth in days gone by.

I will never forget my cousin Phyllis who really cared about all of us, and is an example of what it means to be a Christian.

Love you Bernie, Hans & Emma. So sorry for your loss of a beloved wife, mother, and mother-in-law.

Always much love,
Joe

     Phyllis had such a beautiful smile to match her sweet heart.  She was often quiet, but she also had a sense of humor that would jump out and surprise you.  Her testimony of Jesus Christ was strong and she wasn’t afraid to share it with others.  She was also very willing to help you.
     I so appreciated Phyllis’ willingness to teach lessons in Relief Society.  I always knew she would show-up and do her best, even though she got a bit nervous teaching.  I couldn’t help but chuckle one Sunday when she mentioned her nervousness to me and said, “Oh my goodness, I’m sweating!”
     What a sweet wonderful lady Phyllis has been!  I have so appreciated her friendship!  We will truly miss having her on this earth, but I’m sure she’s doing wonderful things on the other side of the veil.  
Best Wishes, Phyllis!  I love you!   


     Phyllis joined a group of us ladies who would meet together to write memories of our childhood.  Using a prompt, we would silently write for a while and then at the end share some of the things we remembered.  Those were precious days! … So much laughter, and tears, together!  I will always tenderly remember the way Phyllis would take off her glasses and rub her eyes when she wrote.
     I also remember Phyllis being very interested in Family History and Genealogy.  It was so fun seeing her excitement when, after some research, she discovered that she had some new unknown family members that she hadn’t known about previously.  She was so excited to connect with them!  And how pleased she was to share her important find with us!  We loved hearing of her discovery and were so happy for her!
     And, Phyllis really did love books!  When the Relief Society started a Book Club, Phyllis was naturally the one designated to head it up.  It was so fun!  Phyllis always had the best suggestions for books to read ...  I was always amazed that she could remember the names of the books AND their authors!  She definitely knew her books!  And then, when we met together to talk about the book we had read, quite often she would surprise us with some type of snack or goodie that went along perfectly with some part of the book.  She made our get-togethers very fun!  Phyllis loved to try new recipes and loved to share, so it wasn’t a surprise to learn that she also listened to books as she cooked in the kitchen!  


Years of memories!  What sweet ones they are!  I remember when Phyllis and her family first moved to Otis Orchards.  She seemed so shy, and yet she reached out to people in such a special and tender way.  
     To help the young men in the ward get to know her son, Hans, the boys were invited to the Koepsell home for a good old-fashioned party with pizza and games ...  they all agreed it was MUCH more fun than their usual “watch a movie” evenings!  And because of this sweet introduction, that group of boys became very good friends.


I first met Phyllis as a guest in her home for a book club in the summer of 2019. We discussed the book The Help and then watched the movie.  It was a fun night with yummy treats in a warm inviting space. Phyllis had a kind and quiet demeanor and was the type of person that was a joy to interact with.  I was able to interact more with her a various church activities.  
She was a woman who tryly let the light of Christ shine. I know she has other work to do now but I will miss her smile and wise words.

I worked with Phyllis at North Pines for many years. She was so wonderful and cheerful. Phyllis would go out of her way to help both staff and students.  When I moved to Horizon, I didn’t know many people. I always went to find Phyllis when I needed to see a friendly face. She was always there with a smile and a kind word. I will truly miss her!

Phyllis was a warm and welcome addition to our CVHS family.  She was always kind and truly cared about each person she came in contact with.  Phyllis listened to families and worked to meet the needs of all.  She often spoiled us with her incredible desserts and snacks.  Even though we only got to work with her for a short time, she was a special and valued member of our team.  We appreciate the time we were able to work with her and certainly miss her and the contributions she made to our school community.  She will remain in our thoughts and prayers.
With condolences, 
CVHS Staff

When I think of Phyllis, I imagine this sweet, beautiful, intelligent, spiritual sister that I admire so much.  She always made me feel comfortable to be around her.  When Stan & I would go to visit her & Bernie, they always made sure we went home with produce from their beautiful garden.  We had the privilege of having Han’s wedding reception at our home.  I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed watching Phyllis’s excitement getting ready for this important event in Han’s life.  She is a beloved mom & wife.  She is a cherished friend to all.  We will love her forever.

Phyllis and I had a special bond and I loved her an awful lot.  Not too long ago I started calling her short stuff and she called me stretch and we would send cards back-and-forth during this pandemic with those names on the envelopes.  I am going to miss her so much I love you Phyllis......love Stretch. 

     Most of my cherished memories of Phyllis include combinations of shared passions...family, food, books, pets, genealogy, service.  I have  admired and drawn upon her deep well of intellect and wisdom.  I always came away from our conversations feeling lifted and a little more learned. She has the gift of giving advice in a way  that doesn’t feel forced, but allows  you to make your own considerations while feeling  her love and support all at once.  I have also been inspired by the quiet and unassuming way she loves and serves other.  The woman  emanates  faith and goodness, and that light just radiates from her heart towards others.
    It is impossible for me to think of Phyllis without thinking of Bernie. In my world they exist as one! I want to emulate the spoken and unspoken ways in which they demonstrate their devotion to each other. I know this brief separation might feel like an eternity some days, but I know the bond of their unbreakable love and companionship will see them through until they are reunited! Love you, Phyllis,  Bernie, Hans and Emma!

I had been staying home for 2 months with the pandemic and had become very depressed. I went to get mail from my box and there was a note from Phyllis. Talked about how she missed my family. I was so excited to know someone still cared. I’ll miss you so much Phyllis. Get my room ready for me. Love forever!

I remember most of all the time that Bernard and Phyllis live with us in the house on paper Island. It was comforting to us to have an extended family.my brother had just come up from Las Vegas and moved in with us, and I miss them most when they moved on to a new residence. I wish sometimes things did not change in families did not have to move on with their lives, however this is inevitable. I know that we will always see a bright future where memories and hopes never fade. Phyllis was a blessing and helped so much around our family home. When the power went out and my cat Rocky got under the kitchen table and ate her birthday cake, I was so mad at Rocky the cat. We all laughed at the cat thanks to Phyllis and the cat did not receive any punishment for eating a hole in the birthday cake, thanks to Phyllis's even temper.

The last time I saw Phyllis was at one of my brother's funeral. The very first thing she did when she saw me was wrap me in a huge hug and ask "how is one of my boys?". I will never forget that moment, the way she looked at me with such love. 

She was always a mom and a dear, trusted, friend to me. She will always have a place in my heart.

We are deeply saddened by the news of Phyllis’ passing.  We cherish the time we had together many years ago chatting over lunch in Palm Springs.  Although, it was the first time we met each other,  we immediately connected.  

Bernie & Hans - may the memories you cherish comfort you at this difficult time.  We send you our prayers, love and deepest sympathy. 🙏❤️

I loved Phyllis's laugh.  It was so natural and just brought me into whatever had tickled her, so I could laugh too.  She and I were cub scout leaders together.  We had such a great time!  I remember that the time she organized us...our little group of 8 and 9 year olds, to go to the local hospital in Bremerton, to learn about germs.  Even though I am really outspoken, I was NEVER good at organizing field trips.  We had a blast.  Later on in the month, she brought our den all sorts of individual sizes of first aid supplies.  We were going to have each boy make their own first aid kit.  OShe'd gone around to several doctors and dentists and asked for contributions.  When I told her how helpful that was... and brave, too...she laughed it off and said that was what she was good at.  Phyllis was such a generous person with her compassion and friendship.  

I loved getting to know Phyllis so much more by working with her in callings. The last one was cub scouts. She and Bern had the best activities for the boys. We shared many visits that I will always treasure.  She was a tender heart and very dedicated to family and church. What a blessing it is to know that this is not the end. I know she is already busy.  I will miss our visits. 
Renee Hartshorn


I remember when Troy and I met Phyllis and Bernie the day before Emma and Hans got married.  We became instant family!  It was easy to feel Phyllis's immediate love for us.  We all went to lunch and shared our stories and talked about how happy we were to be joining our two families together.  We felt particularly grateful that Emma had chosen a young man from such a loving family.

Another memory was the Christmas we spent together in Utah.  We all stayed in a home in Kaysville.  On Christmas morning, Phyllis had hung a stocking for the homeowner and invited him to join our celebration.  She thought of everything and everyone!!

Also, there were texts and cards for birthdays and Mother's Day and Father's Day.  Phyllis was so generous with her love!!  

She will be missed dearly!


This woman God gave me that I had no idea I need put my face in her hands stared into mine eyes and said I love you.

This was at a time when I was angry and terrified in a new world, but she let me know I was 'home'.  Right where I was meant to be. 

She became my WA Mom.  

What we remember most about Phyllis is how she made us feel like we were her own children. She wasn’t afraid to express her love and affection and we couldn’t help but think of her as a mother figure in our lives. She gave some amazing hugs. She even cried when we said goodbye to her as she helped Hans and Emma move out of their college apartment. 

We can say without a doubt that she lived a beautiful life because of how valued and loved she made us (and others) feel. We can’t stop thinking about the Koepsell family and hope they can feel our love and prayers. 

We love you!
Hailee and Luca

I had the privilege of working with Phyllis at many of our church activities. At one, I made a mistake that upset several other people who then gave me a verbal lashing. I held it together until they left and then started crying. Of course it was Phyllis who came to me, not saying much, but comforting me just by being there. She is a remarkable woman and friend and will be missed ‘til we meet again. 

My favorite memory was when I was 12 and our youth group was doing “mini-missions.” The Koepsells were the family we were assigned to and while all were amazing, Phyllis was so helpful to a scared 12 year old. We shared a friendship after then that I cherished. 

Phyllis loved her niece Michelle De Beauchamp who became our daughter-in-law when she married our son Phil. Then Phyllis  became a loving presence in our extended family. She was unable to meet their baby daughter Claire, but already loved her from her birth. As we are now visiting them, we share our feelings of sorrow that the loving presence of Phyllis is gone from their lives. We all still share the love of Jesus Christ.

How do I single out one experience with my sweet friend “Dills”? Let’s go with how she got her nickname from me. 
It was a girls camp. We were working  together  daily and I asked  her during one of our convos if I could call her “Diller”, you know, Phyllis Diller.
Well, she just smiled at me with an “I’m not sure I like that” kind of smile.  About 5 mins later she said, “Dills” you can call me “Dills”. And  so it was.
I will forever miss her. 

We LOVE Phyllis. One summer I needed more volunteers to run stations for Cub Scout day camp. She was willing so I assigned her to the “worm” station. I had no idea she didn’t like worms but she picked them up and did what was needed to teach those cub scouts. I loved her even more for that. 

About a year ago we had the privilege of having Phyllis and Bernie over for dessert. Phyllis shared her amazing life story with me and all I could do was sit and listen at what an incredible individual I had the opportunity to learn from.  I am so grateful for that opportunity. 

We love you Phyllis, we love you Bernie. 

I was so blessed to have had the honor of having Phyllis as a teaching partner in Sunday School aged 14-15 in Newman Lake Ward. I learned so much from her including many great teaching skills as she implemented them in her weeks of lessons. While very soft spoken, I found her heart and Spirit such an abounding and amazing light to all who knew her. Her knowledge of Christ and His Gospel emanated through her character, humility, and love of everyone.  Again, I am so blessed to have known such an Angel and more so to have had the opportunity to learn so much from her example. May God continue to bless her as she furthers her journey in His Kingdom. 

When our ward was divided, Phyllis was the 1st person I met at an ice cream social in the school parking lot. She and Bernie were sooo friendly! Then she invited me to a book club movie of The Help’ at her home. We got to each other as well as other new members. We were gone most of the winter,  then Covid— so I am sooo sad that we could not deepen our friendship.  There are not that many seniors and she definitely leaves an absence  and will be missed!   ❤️❤️❤️

From the day she moved into the area, she made me feel loved. It didn’t matter if it was a church setting, at her home, or if Hans and I were running around with friends- she embraced me. 

As a youth, knowing your worth can be hard. But I never doubted my worth in the presence of Phyllis. She was constantly showing her love for me through word and action. 

She has always had the light of Christ. It was visible in her countenance in every interaction. I look forward to seeing her light again and getting another embrace!

We love you Bernard, Hans and Emma!

The last time I enjoyed Phylis' company was at a lunch being served in our new ward.  Everyone was new and it was our chance to become acquainted with each other.  I took a spot in the serving line to help dish out the food.  It felt quite sterile as I smiled and tried to learn new names.  I then realized Phyillis was standing beside me.  It felt like I was home.  That's what it always felt like when she was around....like you were coming home.

Oh my, Phyllis was always kind.  Every encounter with her was friendly and sweet, she had a gentle spirit. 

Phyllis Koepsell—You lived the life of an angel on earth. Thank you for your love, your service, your kindness, your friendship and for  living life with joy as a loyal and dedicated disciple of Jesus Christ. You have touched and lifted so many individuals and families. We are each better because we had the opportunity to know you and and learn from your selfless example. We love you and we will miss you. We promise to take care of your beloved husband. God bless you in your labors on the other side of the veil.

Dear Bernie and family,
Phyllis and I grew up together. Literally. We were same age cousins and experienced every event together, family, school or social. We loved each other. Her mother and my father (brother and sister) both died of cancer at very young ages. This brought us even closer together. I’m sad we lived on opposite ends of the country during these past 30 or so years, but I will always have wonderful memories of growing up. Condolences to you and Hans and family. 

OBITUARY

Phyllis Dorothy Emond Koepsell

December 31, 1951 – September 20, 2020

Advantage Funeral & Cremation Services – South Hill

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