Marian Lecuyer Phillips, a beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully at home at the age of 104.
Marian's incredible life journey was marked by resilience, compassion, and service to others. She will forever be remembered by her family and friends.
Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Marian was raised alongside her three sisters by a determined single mother. A child of the Great Depression, hard work and thrift became cornerstones of her character.
In 1941, Marian graduated cum laude with a degree in history from Goucher College.
Shortly after, she married Dr. Benjamin Phillips, and the couple relocated to Charleston, West Virginia, where Benjamin began his career as a chemist with Union Carbide. As they raised their four girls, Marian became an active member of the League of Women Voters, where she championed civic engagement, civil rights, and public education. She also discovered her lifelong love for square dancing.
The family’s next chapter took them to Riverside, Connecticut, where Marian fostered community and welcomed people into their new country by volunteering at Riverside Elementary and Julian Curtiss Schools. She helped students with their homework and taught English to international students and their mothers. Thanks to Marian’s initiative, a Japanese story hour was implemented at Perrot Memorial Library in 1990 with storyteller Masako Sueyoshi. The program was very popular and lasted several years.
Marian’s kitchen was a haven of warmth and love, where her legendary pies and cookies became the gold standard for her children and grandchildren. Her dining room table will always be remembered as a delicious gathering place to share heartfelt conversations seasoned with songs and an occasional poetry recitation.
Even in her 90s, Marian remained actively engaged with her community through the Greenwich Library Oral History Project. As both an interviewer and trainer, she helped preserve our rich tapestry of local stories and histories, ensuring that future generations could learn from the past. Marian encouraged her own children and grandchildren to share and record their own stories, especially their experiences during the Covid pandemic and quarantine.
Her life was a testament to the power of kindness, education, and community service. Never one to seek accolades, Marian leaves behind a legacy of love and dedication, cherished by her family. She is survived by her four daughters: Rebekah Mikkelsen, Marian Henniges, Edith Phillips and her husband Halim Mousa, and Deborah Phillips Leonard and her husband Stephen Leonard, as well as seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
They will forever hold her in their hearts and strive to live by her example.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the The Boys and Girls Club of Greenwich, in Marian's honor. A family celebration of Marian’s life will be held at a later date.
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