Obituary of Doris M. Phillips

Doris Marie Philips formerly of Dorchester, Braintree and West Harwich, went to be with her Lord on July 27 at Wingate at Silver Lake in Kingston a month shy of her 98th birthday. Doris was born in Dorchester on September 6, 1918 and grew up in St. Margaret’s Parish where her father was one of its founding members. She graduated from Teachers College of the City of Boston in 1939 and was a life long educator, teaching practical business skills to returning GI’s at Burdett Junior College, business education at Jamaica Plain High School and eventually retiring from Brighton High School as head of the Business Education Department after decades of service in the Boston School System where she was adored by her students. At “TC” Doris was a member of an amazing group of friends who called themselves the “The 14 - 39ers” whose lifelong friendship was a blessing not just to each other but to all of their families. The 14 - 39ers traveled the world together, supported each other through all of life’s events and were known for keeping any room erupting in riotous laughter. Doris was one of two remaining members. Prior to starting her career in education and anxious to serve her country in wartime, Doris was also an administrator for the FBI during World War II and received a handwritten note of thanks from J. Edgar Hoover at the end of her service. Doris was predeceased by parents Herbert J. and Agnes Bridget (Cunningham) Phillips, sisters Agnes C. Phillips, Anne T. (Phillips) Grant, brother Herbert J. Phillips Jr. and nephew William Denny Grant. She is survived by sister-in-law Anne Carr Phillips of Virginia, nieces Anne (Grant) “L’annie” Duffy of Kingston, Caren (Phillips) “Kerri” Toloczko of Virginia, Amy Duffy Coon and Chrissie Duffy of Duxbury, Dr. Kira Grant Edwards of Falmouth and Caitlin Philpott of Port Credit, Ontario. She also leaves behind nephews Peter Grant of Maine, Matthew Duffy of Hanson, William Denny Grant of Falmouth, Connor Houston of Virginia and and eleven devoted great and great-great nieces and nephews. Far more than just an aunt, Doris was aunt, parent, grandmother, family matriarch and 4-star general of the family army rolled into one. Doris had an extraordinary gift for taking care of her family and friends in time of illness and need, and creating an atmosphere and joy and laughter for her family. Doris put other’s needs ahead of her own at all times without being asked, fully committed to helping with anything that needed doing, loving unconditionally. She and her sister Agnes built a house in West Harwich, Cape Cod in 1957 - an oasis of family, noise, dogs, kids, love and laughter and Doris’ boloney sandwiches with lots of butter. Even in her 90s, there was nothing Doris loved more than a boisterous family get-together with everyone talking at once. A lifelong devoted Catholic and daily communicant, Doris loved her God above all, serving Him for many years through local chapters of Our Lady of Fatima and having the honor of hosting the International Pilgrim Virgin Statute of Fatima for the South Shore. She and Agnes also made Rosaries for the Blue Army of the World Apostolate of Fatima for many years. After retirement Doris was a well-know and beloved volunteer at the South Shore Hospital for over ten years, earning her 5,000 hour pin. Doris’s life can be summed up as adoration of her Savior, selfless devotion to those she loved, and “never a dull moment.” It is hard for her family and friends to imagine a world without Doris, but she has left them with a legacy of laughter and dedication to serving each other that will last many lifetimes. The family would also like to thank Doris’ caregivers of Wingate at Silver Lake for eight years of loving and dedicated care, treating her as if she were part of their own families. A funeral mass will be held on Wednesday, August 3rd at St. Joseph’s church in Kingston at 10:00 AM. Family and friends are welcome to gather at the Shepherd Funeral Home, 216 Main St (Rt. 106) Kingston at 9:00 AM prior to the mass. A graveside service will be held on Thursday, August 4th at Holyhood cemetery in Brookline at 11:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made in Doris’ memory to Cranberry Hospice, 36 Cordage Park Circle, Suite 326, Plymouth, MA 02360.