Northborough – Phyllis Burns Stoddard, of Northborough, passed away at her home Wednesday, March 11, 2015, surrounded by her family, at the age of 87.
She leaves her husband of 64 years, John L. Stoddard, and their three daughters, Amy Fuller and her husband Thomas Fuller of Northborough, Sara Graves and her husband Michael Graves of Shrewsbury, and Martha Pierson and her husband Scott Pierson of Shrewsbury, as well as four grandchildren, Mathew Graves, Emily Graves, Kyle Pierson, and Laura Pierson. She was predeceased by her sister, Vivian Wysocki of California, and her brother, Robert Burns of Connecticut. She is survived by her brother, James Burns of Thompson, Conn.
Phyllis was born in Hartford, Conn. in 1928 and lived in Newington, Conn. until her high school graduation in 1946 where she was voted “cutest” and known for her “sunny disposition.” She graduated Madison College in Harrisonburg, Va. with a Bachelor of Science in Education in 1950, and then worked in the chemistry laboratory at Massachusetts General Hospital. That same year, she met and married John L. Stoddard.
Phyllis briefly lived in Fort Riley, Ks. when John was in the Army for basic training, but returned to Massachusetts when John was transferred overseas. She continued to work as a laboratory technician. Some of her and John’s fondest memories were when they later lived near the coast in Marblehead.
Phyllis and John rented a house in Topsfield for a year while building a house in Boxford. They moved to their new home in 1958 where they raised three daughters. During their 18 years in Boxford, Phyllis volunteered for several organizations, schools and charities, including the Harry Lee Cole Elementary School, Masconomet Regional Junior High School, the Boxford Town Library, and the League of Woman Voters, and was troop leader for the Girl Scouts and volunteered at the church thrift shop. She was also President of the Parent Teachers Association and was instrumental in introducing a kindergarten class at the Trinity Episcopal Church in Topsfield.
Phyllis enjoyed playing tennis locally at her neighbor’s and at the Cedardale Tennis Club in Groveland. Her love for cooking began with watching Julia Child on PBS, and over the years family and friends relished her gourmet meals. She and John cherished the close-knit relationships with their many friends in Boxford and within the Tri-Town Area.
In 1976, they relocated to Northborough where Phyllis briefly worked in the guidance office at Algonquin Regional High School before becoming a bookkeeper at the John Woodman Higgins Armory Museum. She eventually became the museum’s grant writer. In 1993, at the age of 65, Phyllis began the next phase of her career as the grant writer for Tower Hill Botanic Gardens (THBG). Upon her retirement in 2000, she established a horticulture and grounds endowment fund in her name. There is an Eastern Redbud tree planted along the “Inner Path” in recognition of her dedication to Tower Hill. Phyllis volunteered at Tower Hill up until her death.
Phyllis’ love of gardening and the arts was reflected in her longtime membership in the Worcester County Horticultural Society and the Worcester Art Museum. After her diagnosis of scleroderma in 2000, the Scleroderma Worcester Area Support Group provided much needed assistance, hope, friendship, and strength to Phyllis. Despite her physical challenges with scleroderma, Phyllis always maintained a positive outlook on life. Her love of life, her caring attitude and her radiant smile will be deeply missed by family and friends.
There are no funeral services. A private remembrance will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, a gift may be made in Phyllis’ memory to the Phyllis Burns Stoddard Endowment Fund, c/o Tower Hill Botanic Gardens, 11 French Dr., P.O. Box 598, Boylston, MA 01505-0598, or online at www.towerhillbg.org/index.php/support/donate/make-a-gift1/;, or to the Scleroderma Foundation New England, 462 Boston St., Suite 1-1, Topsfield, MA 01983 or online at www.scleroderma.org/newengland.
To share a memory or leave an online condolence, visit www.haysfuneralhome.com.
