Mrs.Phyllis A. Kordell
Phyllis Kordell (née Heginbottom) of Doylestown, PA, formerly of Paramus, NJ, passed away peacefully in hospice care on July 23, 2021. She was 93 years old.
Phyllis was the devoted wife of 37 years to Richard “Dick” Kordell, who preceded her in death in 1986. Born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, she was the beloved daughter of the late Thomas and Lavinia (Parkin) Heginbottom.
Phyllis loved golf, dancing, jigsaw puzzles, and auto racing (as an observer, of course). Phyllis was an expert at, if not a master of, sewing. She could make anything, and did just that. Not only did she start sewing by hand as a teenager because she observed she “did not like to see herself coming and going,” she continued to make her clothing and her children’s clothing; they were always asked by their teachers if their mom made the outfit of the day. She sewed window treatments, slipcovers, and even upholstery for their home.
Phyllis wore many hats. As a young woman growing up in Connecticut, she worked for the local phone company and was a model. While raising her family, her employers included a book binder, Stern’s Department Store, Popsicle, and the Paramus Board of Education. She spent many hours as a temp so that she could travel.
It was Phyllis’ love for travel that led her to meet Dick in Miami, Florida. Later, that love of travel saw Phyllis and Dick taking their family on two memorable transcontinental vacations that included Canada and Mexico. She toured England, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Morocco, Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, Alaska (by train and ship with her mother and sister on one of those visits and with dear friends on the other), and cruised the Caribbean and the Panama Canal. During her time in Nokomis, Florida, she enjoyed the company of her friends and, of course, the sunshine.
She was the cherished wife of Dick from 1949 until his passing. She is survived by their daughter and three sons: Lauren Gillen (Martin) of Doylestown, PA, Richard (Janice) of Millbury, MA, Raymond (Ruthann) of Paramus, NJ, and Randall (Nancy) of South Bound Brook, NJ; eight grandchildren: Kate Hutton (Ben), Elizabeth Halgren (Kyle), Brian Kordell, Jennifer Kordell (Tobi), Matt Kordell (Sona), Rachel, Caroline and Elizabeth Kordell; four great grandchildren: Rosie Hutton, Benjamin, Samuel and Claire Halgren; and her brother Thomas Heginbottom.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her sister Elaine Parent.
Our mom will be remembered with love, as a dear mother, grandmother, sister, wonderful travel companion, and good friend to many. She was generous, loved extra onion on her hamburger, could never have enough garlic on her pasta, celebrated her 90th birthday at Taco Bell, and required lots of sugar in her coffee. She loved her family, was known for being a good worrier (which seemed to work because we were always ok), remembered our special days without exception, and could always be counted on to call us on each birthday to sing her birthday wishes.
The family would like to thank the caregivers at Pine Run Health Center.
Interment in George Washington Memorial Park, Paramus, NJ.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the American Heart Association.
https://www.fluehr.com/obituaries/phyllis-a-kordell-2021-07-23