Elizabeth "Betty" Ann Phillips

Elizabeth "Betty" Ann Phillips, 65, of Springfield, Illinois died at 2:20 a.m. on Monday, December 27, 2010 at Memorial Medical Center. Betty was born May 26, 1945 in Chicago, the daughter of Ralph and Josephine O'Leary Briggs. She married Timothy P. Phillips on February 19, 1988 in Springfield. She was formerly married to Michael Pera. Betty earned her B.A. in Literature in 1982 and her M.A. in Human Development Counseling in 1989 from Sangamon State University, where she was employed from 1981 until 1989. She was a Marriage and Family Therapist at St. Monica's Center from 1989 until she retired in 1998. She was a member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapists, a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors and listed in the Marquis Who's Who of American Women. Betty was also a member of Riverton First United Methodist Church, The Binding That Ties Book Club, Laundry Day Queens Bowling League, IDOT Ladies Golf League, and RIFIGOG Gourmet Dinner Group. She enjoyed reading, bowling, golf, board games, tennis, traveling, concerts and plays. She was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her husband, Timothy P. Phillips of Springfield; her children, Kevin (wife, Terri) Pera of Littleton, CO, and Amy (partner, Amber Holthus) Pera of Denver, CO; step-children, Christina (husband, Karl) Karins of Springfield and Cynthia (husband, William) McKenna of St. Louis, MO; seven grandchildren; one sister, Arlene (husband, Fred) Demann of Marengo, IL; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. Family will receive friends from 9:00 a.m. until the time of ceremony at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, December 29, 2010 at Kirlin-Egan & Butler Funeral Home, 900 S. 6th St., Springfield with Rev. Jonathan Dixon officiating. Burial will follow at Roselawn Memorial Park. Memorial contributions may be made to: Springfield Muni Opera, 815 E. Lake Shore Dr., Springfield, IL 62712 or the American Cancer Society, 687 E. Linton Ave., Springfield, IL 62703.