Phyllis J. Smith

Phyllis J. Smith passed away peacefully on March 5, 2023 at home in Fairfield, New Jersey. Born in Glen Ridge, she lived in Belleville on the former grounds of Soho Hospital also known as The Essex County Isolation Hospital with her parents Dr. Ellis Smith & Marion Smith, and her sister Dorothy. Phyllis graduated from Boston University (Sargent College) in 1954 and thus began an illustrious career as a teacher for fifteen years in the Union Public School District. In 1969 she joined the faculty at West Essex Junior High School (now West Essex Middle School) until she retired in 1987. It was at West Essex where she coached a generation of field hockey players in preparation for their high school experience. Excelling at basic fundamentals, Phyllis was adept at grooming young girls into state champions. Her many contributions to the West Essex Field Hockey program can never be overstated. Phyllis was predeceased by her parents Dr. & Mrs. Ellis Smith and her sister Dorothy Schempp. She is survived by her life partner Linda Alimi (the wind beneath my wings) of Fairfield, NJ and three nephews, Eugene, Kenneth, Phillip, and her menagerie of loving cats. Visitors will be received at the Ippolito-Stellato Funeral Home, 7 Two Bridges Road, Fairfield, on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, from 2-4 and 7-9PM. The funeral will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center, 575 Woodland Avenue, Madison NJ 07940 or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis TN 38105.

Visitation
Wednesday, March 8, 2023
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Ippolito-Stellato Funeral Home - Fairfield
7 Two Bridges Road
Fairfield NJ 07004
US
(973) 882-5588


Visitation
Wednesday, March 8, 2023
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Ippolito-Stellato Funeral Home - Fairfield
7 Two Bridges Road
Fairfield NJ 07004
US
(973) 882-5588


Funeral HomeIppolito-Stellato Funeral Home - Fairfield
7 Two Bridges Road
Fairfield NJ - 07004
US
(973) 882-5588