Eileen Phillips

Eileen Phillips of Bergenfield NJ, beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away Thursday morning at Sunrise Assisted Living in Cresskill NJ at the age of 94. Born in Jamaica NY to John and Florence Greeley, Eileen was a graduate of Bishop McDonald High School in Brooklyn NY. In her early 20's she worked as a tour guide at Rockefeller Center in New York City, from which Eileen acquired an impressive autograph collection of various movie stars..... something she treasured her entire life. It was during this time she met her future husband Joe Phillips, who was working as a page for NBC. Joe preceded Eileen in death in 2017. Eileen and Joe lived in Tenafly for 35 years before moving to Bergenfield. During those years she was active in the local community for decades…..politics, Blood Bank, Women's Club, as well as enjoying the annual Tenafly Fireman's Dinner Dance with her husband. Eileen and Joe shared a love of country life and enjoyed going to farms in upstate New York for vacations where she collected some of the most beloved Phillips family recipes; Eileen was an excellent cook. She loved entertaining and hosting parties at their home. Eileen and Joe also got tremendous pleasure from their time as members of the Knickerbocker Country Club..... attending functions and playing paddle tennis. In addition to her career as a homemaker, Eileen also managed the accounting for her father's business in New York City, then eventually took over the business, moving it to New Jersey where she ran it for several years. However, she felt her greatest accomplishment in life was raising her four children. Eileen was extremely proud of each of them and they were a source of pride and joy throughout her life. In later years Eileen looked forward to going on various cruises with her husband, as well as closer to home, jaunts to the casino. A devout Catholic, Eileen was a member of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish where she sang in the choir for years, and also attended the SMA Mission. Eileen is survived by son Thomas and daughter-in-law Barbara; daughters MaryAnn Phillips, Carrie Delorme, Jeannine (Edwards) Spencer and son-in-law Glenn; 2 grandchildren—Katie Trunzo and husband Jeff, and Meaghan Wildasin and her husband Adam and their 2 daughters. Visitation at the Barrett Leber Funeral Home, 148 Dean Drive, Tenafly NJ on Sunday, April 10, 2022 from 3-5 PM, and on Monday, April 11, 2022 from 10:30 AM to 11:30AM. Funeral Mass will be held Monday, April 11, 2022 at 12 PM at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, Tenafly, NJ. Interment to follow at Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Tenafly. Eileen loved flowers..... additionally memorial donations may be made to SMA Fathers, 23 Bliss Avenue, Tenafly NJ 07670. For directions: www.barrettleberfuneralhome.com

Eileen Phillips

April 7, 2022