Obituary for Frances Phillips MacLeod
Frances Phillips MacLeod July 12, 1926 – September 6, 2020
Frances was born to Stanley and Frances Phillips on July 12, 1926 in Glen Ridge, New Jersey. She died on September 6th, 2020, at the age of 94, from complications of a hiatal hernia, at Holy Cross Hospital in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
She is survived by her four children, Diana, Susan, Cindy and Kenny. She wrote in her journal that her children were her greatest accomplishment. The oldest, Diana (nicknamed Wendy), and husband Bill reside in Potsdam, NY. They have two children, Nova and Bali, and two grandchildren. Susan and husband Krent reside in Pompano Beach, FL. They have two children, Amy and Chelsea, and three grandsons. Cindy and husband Wayne reside in Toms River, NJ. They have four children, Wayne Jr, Amanda, Jessica and Hailey, and seven grandchildren.
The youngest, Kenny, and wife Becky reside in Bolton, MA. They have two sons, Brooks and Blake. Frances is preceded in death by her brother, William, and her sister, Diana.
As a child she loved to draw, scribbling faces and figures in her notebook. She attended Emma Willard High School and experienced working in sculpture at Bennett College. She then attended The Paine Hall School in NYC and trained as a medical assistant. After school, she married Charles K. MacLeod and as her children grew up she volunteered as a girl scout troop leader and PTA board member. At night, she took classes in oil painting at Montclair High School. There she met classmates who were studying watercolor, not oil, and she became intrigued with the “fluid ease of watercolor as a medium.”
In her late fifties, she moved to California where she met and married Cliff Moore. She studied portrait and figure art at Santa Monica College and often painted outside in nearby parks and beaches. Once a year, she and Cliff visited Yosemite National Park where she took many art classes offered by noted water color artists like Frank Webb and Tony Couch.
In her seventies, she returned to New Jersey. Cliff had passed and in 2005 she met Vinnie Albanese on a walk at Grover Cleveland Park near her home in Caldwell. Vinnie’s love of photography and her love of art made them friends for life. He introduced her to the Bloomfield Art League, Essex Water Color Club, and Livingston and West Essex Art Associations. During these years they spent lots of time together each enjoying their craft. She won many awards, including a number of “Best in Show” prizes. Her last award in 2010 was the Lettie Steinhart Award for Best Watercolor for her painting named ‘Old Guard’. Her inspiration for the painting was the colonial setting of Waterloo Village in Newton, NJ that they went to often.
Of her many hobbies, most involved nature. She loved walking in parks and on nature trails. She loved the Iris gardens in Upper Montclair and the cherry blossoms at Branch Brook Park. She loved camping, fishing, singing, crafting, piano playing, and poetry.
On family trips she entertained her children by singing songs. Some of these songs were ‘The Cannibal King’, ‘They Built the Ship Titanic’, ‘The Frog Are a Funny Looking Boy’, ‘Tell Me Why’, and ‘Peace I Ask of Thee O River’. These songs have now been passed down to the grandchildren who called her ‘Granny Frannie’.
Her love of language and verse spurred her on to write poetry. She could always remember things that rhymed and so she painted with her words as well as she painted with her brushes. She even wrote her passing poem, ‘Final Destination’.
She was young at heart and had a silly sense of humor, which she displayed through many funny faces and a one of a kind belly laugh. Even in her last days she was singing and laughing. Her personality came through when she responded with her standard “funnies” like:
‘Okee dokee smokey’ and ‘Woofles’
Her favorite places were Montauk Long Island, Madison CT, and Hartwood NY. She loved listening to music by James Taylor, Bread, Glen Campbell, John Denver, Kenny Rogers, Carol King and Chicago. Her favorite songs were “Shower the People” and “Devoted to You” by James Taylor. She also loved “If” by Bread, “Wichita Lineman” by Glen Campbell and “Sunshine on My Shoulders” by John Denver. If she was watching television, it was Dr. Phil, Too Cute, Andy of Mayberry, Jeopardy, or River Monsters (she loved Jeremey Wade). Her favorite movie was Forrest Gump because Tom Hanks reminded her so much of her beloved son, Kenny. And her favorite flowers were daisies and irises.
She will be missed dearly, but our wonderful memories of her will live on and make us smile and laugh.
A special thank you to her caregivers, Jenny, Cici and Tanya for their excellent care, compassion and love. You made her last years the best they could be.
A family Celebration of Life is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 27th. In lieu of flowers, these were her favorite charities:
St. Jude's Children Hospital, Feed the Children, and the ASPCA.
Frances was born to Stanley and Frances Phillips on July 12, 1926 in Glen Ridge, New Jersey. She died on September 6th, 2020, at the age of 94, from complications of a hiatal hernia, at Holy Cross Hospital in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
She is survived by her four children, Diana, Susan, Cindy and Kenny. She wrote in her journal that her children were her greatest accomplishment. The oldest, Diana (nicknamed Wendy), and husband Bill reside in Potsdam, NY. They have two children, Nova and Bali, and two grandchildren. Susan and husband Krent reside in Pompano Beach, FL. They have two children, Amy and Chelsea, and three grandsons. Cindy and husband Wayne reside in Toms River, NJ. They have four children, Wayne Jr, Amanda, Jessica and Hailey, and seven grandchildren.
The youngest, Kenny, and wife Becky reside in Bolton, MA. They have two sons, Brooks and Blake. Frances is preceded in death by her brother, William, and her sister, Diana.
As a child she loved to draw, scribbling faces and figures in her notebook. She attended Emma Willard High School and experienced working in sculpture at Bennett College. She then attended The Paine Hall School in NYC and trained as a medical assistant. After school, she married Charles K. MacLeod and as her children grew up she volunteered as a girl scout troop leader and PTA board member. At night, she took classes in oil painting at Montclair High School. There she met classmates who were studying watercolor, not oil, and she became intrigued with the “fluid ease of watercolor as a medium.”
In her late fifties, she moved to California where she met and married Cliff Moore. She studied portrait and figure art at Santa Monica College and often painted outside in nearby parks and beaches. Once a year, she and Cliff visited Yosemite National Park where she took many art classes offered by noted water color artists like Frank Webb and Tony Couch.
In her seventies, she returned to New Jersey. Cliff had passed and in 2005 she met Vinnie Albanese on a walk at Grover Cleveland Park near her home in Caldwell. Vinnie’s love of photography and her love of art made them friends for life. He introduced her to the Bloomfield Art League, Essex Water Color Club, and Livingston and West Essex Art Associations. During these years they spent lots of time together each enjoying their craft. She won many awards, including a number of “Best in Show” prizes. Her last award in 2010 was the Lettie Steinhart Award for Best Watercolor for her painting named ‘Old Guard’. Her inspiration for the painting was the colonial setting of Waterloo Village in Newton, NJ that they went to often.
Of her many hobbies, most involved nature. She loved walking in parks and on nature trails. She loved the Iris gardens in Upper Montclair and the cherry blossoms at Branch Brook Park. She loved camping, fishing, singing, crafting, piano playing, and poetry.
On family trips she entertained her children by singing songs. Some of these songs were ‘The Cannibal King’, ‘They Built the Ship Titanic’, ‘The Frog Are a Funny Looking Boy’, ‘Tell Me Why’, and ‘Peace I Ask of Thee O River’. These songs have now been passed down to the grandchildren who called her ‘Granny Frannie’.
Her love of language and verse spurred her on to write poetry. She could always remember things that rhymed and so she painted with her words as well as she painted with her brushes. She even wrote her passing poem, ‘Final Destination’.
She was young at heart and had a silly sense of humor, which she displayed through many funny faces and a one of a kind belly laugh. Even in her last days she was singing and laughing. Her personality came through when she responded with her standard “funnies” like:
‘Okee dokee smokey’ and ‘Woofles’
Her favorite places were Montauk Long Island, Madison CT, and Hartwood NY. She loved listening to music by James Taylor, Bread, Glen Campbell, John Denver, Kenny Rogers, Carol King and Chicago. Her favorite songs were “Shower the People” and “Devoted to You” by James Taylor. She also loved “If” by Bread, “Wichita Lineman” by Glen Campbell and “Sunshine on My Shoulders” by John Denver. If she was watching television, it was Dr. Phil, Too Cute, Andy of Mayberry, Jeopardy, or River Monsters (she loved Jeremey Wade). Her favorite movie was Forrest Gump because Tom Hanks reminded her so much of her beloved son, Kenny. And her favorite flowers were daisies and irises.
She will be missed dearly, but our wonderful memories of her will live on and make us smile and laugh.
A special thank you to her caregivers, Jenny, Cici and Tanya for their excellent care, compassion and love. You made her last years the best they could be.
A family Celebration of Life is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 27th. In lieu of flowers, these were her favorite charities:
St. Jude's Children Hospital, Feed the Children, and the ASPCA.