Phyllis Peterson Obituary

Phyllis Jean Peterson

Her Way



Phyllis Jean Peterson was my Mother- in -law and I was her daughter in law, but long ago we both dropped the “in-law” and that suited us both just fine. That was her way.



Everyone here today knew her either as Ma, or Grandma, or Great Grammy or Auntie, Mrs. Peterson, or just plain, Phyllis. But her name for everyone else was “Honey” .She just loved everybody. If you introduced her to your family or friends they were hers too. That was her way.



Over the years I came to love and respect her for her loving way. She had such an amazing gift for loving the other person. She would often become a trustworthy confidant and you felt like she was always on your side for whatever situation you needed her to be. That was her way.



If she knew it was your birthday and she had your phone number, you were going to get birthday call. That was one of her favorite ways of keeping in touch. That was her way.



And she was a great teacher. She taught me a lot of things by just being herself. That was her way.



She knew how to treat people. She had a great way of boosting you up so that you felt better about yourself after a visit with her. That was her way.



She had a unique way of dealing with her own personal pain. Her different ailments would seem overwhelming to me at times, but somehow she managed to divert the focus of her pain and suffering away from herself in a positive way. She’d always consider the other person she was with at the moment and ask them how they were doing and magically they became more important to her than what she was going thru. That was her way.



She believed in keeping in touch with and visiting her loved ones especially the ones who needed it in the nursing homes, even if they couldn’t do the same in return. She would often say to me how she needed to tell her people she loved them because “You never know when you’ll see them next.” That was her way.



During our many doctor visits together, she always made sure her family doctor and his staff, got a hug. I think it surprised them so much! Yet I could see how good it made them feel. She never stopped doing it. That was her way.



In the hospital she would often be so sick and tired of being sick but somehow, someway, she would make a point of asking many of the medical staff, personally how they were doing. And they would tell her!! She would call them honey, too. And she was remembered for that. That was her way.



Her loving way did not stop at people. She loved all living creatures. Animals gravitated to her and her gentle nature. They could sense how caring she was. Any stray animal that happened to land at her doorstep found a home. Cat or dog, pigeon or mouse, her heart was always open to them. That was her way.





And the bond between her and her sisters stayed with her even though they were no longer in this world. Even though’ she was the last one to survive, she kept them alive in her thoughts and words everyday as she would often reminisce about them. Perhaps you heard the story of the lamps. One for each sister. When one passed on she obtained a lamp from the sister’s family. She would put it in a prominent place in her home and keep it lit in there memory. There were one many other keepsakes like that from friends and family. That was her way.



Her favorite thing to do when she was able was party. She had fun and made fun wherever the party was. And her door was always open for a sleepover. The longer the better. That was her way.



She loved to share her food with everyone. She planned ahead for any visitors. Making sure she had plenty of snacks with family’s help, just in case anyone dropped by. And if they did come for a visit, they were sent home with bags full of goodies. That was her way.



The seed of love planted in her heart grew to a great love of all the people she had around her. And talking to so many of you, her seed has grown in your hearts, too. That was her way.



I will miss you deeply Ma. You were the best.



Good Night Sweet Dreams Love You God Bless.

What can I say about Aunt Phyllis? Well, first of all, she was my loving aunt, my second mom, my dearest friend, and also, my hero. She was the strongest lady that I’ve ever known. Her love and courage and support has helped me most of my entire life. Whenever I would have any problem about anything, I could talk to her and she would always take time to talk to me and try somehow to make me feel so much better.



We almost lost her several times due to all of her illnesses, but thank God she pulled through it. Talk about a strong person! She survived losing all her sisters and their husbands and the hardest thing she never expected: to out-live her daughter, Phyllis Jean, and of course her loving husband “Raymond” (In a matter of three months they both passed away.) I personally thought she would give up after all that. But no. She had such inner strength that kept her going.



We would cry together, laugh together, even talk on the phone sometimes six times a day. My mornings always began by me giving Auntie a call (nine out of ten times she’d be either in the bathroom (her second home) or in her chair in the living room. And she’d say, “What time is it? I didn’t make it to bed again. I did an all nighter. Don’t tell Johnny, he’ll get mad and you know how he worries about me. I was so involved in this one good movie, and then something else came on. Before I knew it- wow- it was morning.” She sure was a night owl, just like her sister, Helen, (my grandma).







Auntie and I had some favorite TV shows like “Desperate Housewives” and “Sex in the City”. (Yes, that’s right.) I got her hooked on so many programs and I would call her right before they would come on so she couldn’t miss them.



I remember when my Grandma Helen lived downstairs from us; Aunt Phyllis and Grandma would talk on the phone all hours of the night. I’d go to work in the morning and she would just be going to bed.



There were a lot of Kankakee trips that Auntie would go with me to see my brother, Bobby. We had a ball, laughing, joking, and lots of good lunches at Country Buffet.

And Bobby would say “don’t forget to go to Dairy Queen for dessert. (Blizzard or Dilly Bars). We came out of the restaurant stuffed and he still wants to go to Dairy Queen. So off we went to Dairy Queen!



I remember all the family gatherings downstairs when Aunt Phyllis would come over and she and Aunt Virginia and Rol would stay for a week at a time. They had so much fun. I always knew Aunt Virginia was staying by the amount of cases of Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer that Rol carried in. They would all have a great time. I’ll always have those memories.



It’s hard to list all the wonderful memories I have in my heart of my “Aunt Phyllis”. I only hope she will give me her strength to stay strong and make good decisions about all matters. I will miss her just as I know all of you will, too.



She was so thrilled to be a great grandma, and loved all of her family so much.



Aunt Phyllis loved our turkey dressing. Ken and I make the old “La Chance Recipe” dressing and she loved it. She would freeze lots of it and eat it with so many other dinners during the year. She even talked about me bringing some dressing this thanksgiving to the hospital. “Well, Auntie, I guess I won’t be doing that for you this year, but our first bite of dressing we take this week, Ken and I will “toast to you”.



Remember, we love you, we’ll miss you, and now it’s time to be with your “Raymond”, Phyllis Jean, and all of your wonderful sisters and brothers-in law. I’m sure you’ll find a way to laugh and enjoy being together again.



Bye for now, Auntie.



We love you!

Ken & Cherie

XOXOX



P.S. Everyone sure will miss their birthday calls from you.

I will miss my Aunt Phyllis.

I will really miss her singing Happy Birthday to me every year.

Nobody could hit the note and mean it, like she could.

I will foever treasure the girls weekend away in Wis. and the champion toast we shared together.

We all will miss the Love she had for everybody.

I Love you and may God bless you.

Now may she rest in peace with the Lord, her husband,her daughter,and her sisters.

Love Debbie

Phyllis jean was my Grandmother,Mother and most of all my BEST friend. She taught me so many things from how not to be affraid of the dark to how to have "thick skin" when other children were not so nice to me. She raised me as well as she raised her own children and because of her love & work this world is a better place. Now we will carry on her love and memory thru our children and teach them as she taught us but I don't think I will be able to do half the job she has done. Well I can only have one thing left to tell the world about my grandmother as I sit and well up from emotion is her and her sister's goodby saying "Goodnight,Sweetdreams,Ilove you and God Bless"

Grandma Phyllis was an amazing woman and I am sad that I didn't have the oppurtunity to know her for longer.She had a remarkable way of making everyone she came in contact with feel important.I will miss her very much but I am comforted at least in knowing that she is not suffering anymore. WE LOVE YOU!