Phillips

Mrs. Mary Lou Phillips, age 81, of Rockford went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Saturday, April 4, 2009.

Mary Lou happily spent her entire life in Cannon Township. In 1946 she graduated from Rockford High School and married Bill soon after.

Mary Lou was very active in every aspect of Bostwick Lake Congregational Church. She dedicated many hours of service, including supervising and cooking many meals in the kitchen, being the wedding co-coordinator, and most of all the mundane tasks it takes for a church to run smoothly. Mary Lou took on the responsibility of decorating the church with flowers and helping with the everyday maintenance of the church. Her husband, Bill, was one of the men that founded the Cannon Township Fire Department, and she supported them for many years by providing cookies and her special Texas Sheet Cake. Also, when there was a major fire, she made sure the firefighters had coffee, juice and snacks.

For many years Mary Lou worked at Wyoming-Stuyvesant Floral where she became an expert bow maker. She had a gift she shared with many brides and grooms by providing them with beautiful wedding cakes and also made many other special occasion cakes. Mary Lou taught her children to jump in and help when needed without expecting anything in return.

She was the nicest person you could ever meet. Mary Lou worried about others and focused on lending herself to those in need. She was happiest serving others and will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

Mary Lou is survived by her daughters, Mrs. Alice Andree of Rockford, and Judy (Larry) Halberstadt of Grand Rapids; her grandchildren, William Andree, Colette Andree, and Ryan Andree; great-grandchildren, Alicia Shank, Brandon Andree, Faith Andree, Cody Andree, and Alexandra Andree; sister-in-law, Mrs. Margaret Hunt; and nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, William Phillips, on June 2, 1988; a son-in-law, Dale Andree; brothers, Wayne Hunt and Lloyd Hunt and his wife, Ruth; grandson, Jerremiah Bartlette; and a sister, Mrs. Evelyn Hall.

The service celebrating Mary Lou’s faith life and physical life was Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. at Bostwick Lake Congregational Church UCC with Pastor Jason Hubbard officiating. Interment was in Bostwick Lake Cemetery. Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider Bostwick Lake Congregational Church UCC or Pilgrim Manor Benevolent Fund.

       Arrangements were made by Pederson Funeral Home, Rockford.