Rose Mary Phillips Silva ascended into the arms of the Lord in the early morning hours of Wednesday, June 14, 2023. She was born in New York City on July 30, 1933, and at the age of 7 moved to Bridgewater, New Jersey. She is a 1951 graduate of Somerville High School.

Rose Mary had various jobs in New Jersey, and retired in 1998. Her most rewarding and joyous “job” was working and volunteering at Christ the King Church in Manville. She and her daughter Claire lived together and did lots of traveling. In 2013 they moved to New Port Richey, Florida, where Rose Mary joined St. Thomas Aquinas Church and continued to volunteer as a Eucharistic Minister and Sacristan.

During our growing-up years, Rose Mary had an open door policy, and at times you would never know who was there. Whenever anyone in the Weston area of Manville was looking for their child, the first place they called was the Phillips house. There was always a pitcher of Kool Aid in the fridge, and a pot of chili or something in the crockpot. There were friends who came just to talk with Mom and would end up staying for a few days or weeks. She didn’t care – she had so much love in her heart for anyone who walked through the door. She was also a Girl Scout leader.

Most people would recognize Rose Mary by her distinctive laugh. When Claire took her to Atlantic City to see Debbie Reynolds in concert, Debbie stopped her show to ask who had that incredible laugh. Everyone loved that laugh…

Rose Mary was preceded in death by her daughter Dawn Phillips, and her son Gregory “Pica” Phillips. She is survived by her loving children: Amy Alford (Georgia); Claire Phillips, with whom she lived since 1992; Andy Phillips (Pennsylvania); David Phillips (Josie, Georgia); Bob Phillips (Lisa, Virginia); and Jim Phillips (Christine). She is also survived by 11 grandchildren (Marisa, Michael, Carla, Jason, Christopher, Kristy, Marc, Stacey, Rachel, Katie, Jessy) and 17 great-grandchildren, all of whom she loved and cherished. And we can’t forget her “other” sons – Carl Leone and Tim Hardgrove, who have loved her like a mother and call her “Mom 2”. Rose Mary will also be mourned by her nieces and nephews, and other relatives and friends.

A funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, July 1, at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in New Port Richey, FL.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, July 22, at Ketusky Funeral Home in Manville, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to the Black Madonna Shrine, PO Box 181, Eureka MO 63025