CECELIA “CILL” PHILLIPSON

Cill was born August 11, 1934, in Toronto, daughter of the late Eugene and Anna (Hritchock) Keenan.

She was a member of the St. Francis Catholic Church in Toronto. In her early years, Cill worked as a Telephone Operator for Ohio Bell, and later for Dr. Strovilas in Toronto.

Cill was one of the original founders, in 1978, of the TEMS Ambulance Service where she was a volunteer EMT. She was an original founder of the Ft. Steuben Kennel Club, a former Miss Toronto as a teen, and Toronto’s first female lifeguard.

In addition to her parents, Cill was preceded in death by her husband, John E. ‘Spook’ Phillipson, Sr., her son John E. Phillipson, Jr., brothers, Gene and Bernie Keenan, and sister Dolores ‘Dee’ Burkett.

Cill leaves behind her children, William D. (Sandy Brown) Phillipson of Richmond, OH, Jackie A. De Matteis of Canton, OH, Michele ‘Shelly’ (Bob) Henry and Kathi (Brian) Meadows, both of Toronto; brother, Joe (Phyllis) Keenan of Toronto; grandchildren, Theresa, Colleen, Lauren, Michael, Alexis, Mandy, Bri, Shannan, Robbie, Mindy, and Desiree; great-grandchildren, Mica, Jordan, Mitch, Livi, Camden, Luca, Isabella, Brody, Clara, Gatlin, Alauna, Leah, Lil Robbie, John, Adalyn and Taytum, and one on the way, and several nieces and nephews.

Visitation for Cill will be held Wednesday, May 8, from 4 PM to 7 PM at the J.E. Foster Funeral Home in Toronto. A Funeral Liturgy with Mass will be held Thursday at 10:30 am at the St. Francis Church in Toronto with additional visitation in the rear of the church from 9:45 AM to 10:30 AM. Fr. Thomas Vennitti will celebrate, and burial will follow in the Island Creek Cemetery in Toronto.

Cill’s family would like to thank her four at-home caregivers, who spent a year in her home, Terri, Marcita, Erin and Nancy, the LPNs and Aides at Wyngate, and Valley Hospice for all the care they provided. www. jefosterfh.com.