Phyllis Wilder Clifford, 95, died December 1, 2013, at home in Helena. She was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, on June 11, 1918, but grew up in Hartford, CT, where she worked for the Hartford Insurance Company. She married John (“Jack”) Clifford, also of Worcester, on October 11, 1947. They lived in the Hartford area for some 45 of the 55 years they were married, with moves to Syracuse, NY, and Los Angeles, CA, in the 1960’s for Jack’s job. In their retirement, Phyllis helped organize fundraisers for the Leukemia Society, learned to play golf, and enjoyed traveling to Florida, Hawaii, and Ireland, among other places. Widowed in 2002, Phyllis moved to Woburn, MA, where she lived for nine years. In 2011, at the age of 92, Phyllis decided she was ready for a new adventure and moved to Helena, residing at Touchmark where she made many good friends. She loved living in Helena and was active in the Touchmark book club and current events group, and other social activities. She remained a loyal fan of the Boston Red Sox, New England Patriots, and the UConn women’s basketball team.
Phyllis was preceded in death by her husband, parents, and sisters, Muriel Cutler and Rosalie Urbank. She is survived by daughters Carol Clifford (Ed Thomson) of Helena and Joan (Harry) Stoddard of Belmont, MA; grandchildren Maria Thomson of Helena, Lisa Stoddard (Brie Smith) of Bethlehem, PA, and John Stoddard (Kellen Zakula) of Boston, MA; several nieces and nephews and a cousin. A memorial service in Massachusetts is planned for a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Phyllis’s name may be sent to St. Paul’s UMC Medical Mission Fund, 512 Logan St, Helena, MT, 59601.
The family would like to thank all those who provided care and comfort to Phyllis in the final months of her life, including the many caring staff and aides at both Touchmark and Hospice of St. Peter’s; Marie Lavinder and Renee Little; and Dr. Donald Skillman and Dr. Phillip Steele and their staffs.
Service Schedule
Services are pending at this time or no services will be held. If available, please see obituary for more information.
Service Schedule
Services are pending at this time or no services will be held. If available, please see obituary for more information.
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