Obituary of Phyllis R. Schmucki
Phyllis Riley Schmucki of Skillman, NJ, died on Tuesday, May 15, 2018. She was 94. Phyllis was born in East Orange, NJ on July 19, 1923. Her father was Charles J. Riley and her mother was Josephine Petrullo.
Phyllis graduated from the Clifford J. Scott High School in East Orange, NJ, where she met her close lifelong friend Janice Howland. After high school Phyllis attended the Traphagen School of Design in New York City.
During WWII Phyllis worked as an expediter at the Eastern Aircraft division of General Motors Company in Newark, NJ. After the war Phyllis worked for United Airlines as Supervisor of their New York City Ticket Office. She was named United Airlines Employee of the Year.
On April 15, 1950, Phyllis and Bud were married and honeymooned at ALTA ski resort. They made their first home in East Orange, NJ, then built their beautiful home in Morristown, NJ, where they raised their three children Lisa, Ross and Tina. They lived on Springbrook Road for 56 years. Life was filled with Springbrook neighbors and kids, The Kent Place School, The Peck School, and summers in Jaffrey, NH, and Mantaloking, NJ. After the kids left the nest Phyllis put her designer skills to good use and started a fine goods gift shop in Morristown called Etagere, Ltd. It was the perfect outlet for her skill at selecting and buying fine goods and helping others pick just the right gift or decorate their beautiful home.
Phyllis joined the Women's Association of Morristown Memorial Hospital, and supervised 19 "TWIG" volunteer groups with over 300 volunteer members. She served on the Board of the Association, and managed hospital fundraisers such as the Diamond Jubilee Ball and the Third Family Festival. Her favorite projects were chairing the designer committee of "Upton Pyne - A Mansion in May" and serving as Chair of "Giralda - A Mansion in May." These projects raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the hospital, received national recognition and attracted high profile attendees such as First Lady Betty Ford. Phyllis also served on the Board of Morristown Memorial Hospital and The Peck School.
Bud Schmucki was the love of Phyllis' life. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in 2010 before he died. They were tremendous homemakers and loving parents with a wide social network of friends. Phyllis was proud that her husband and all her children graduated from Princeton University and loved participating in Princeton events. Later in life Phyllis and Bud vacationed at favorite places in Europe. Phyllis dearly loved her sons and daughters in law, and adored her six grandkids, who were a constant joy to Phyllis.
After Bud died, Phyllis moved to Stonebridge in Skillman, NJ, to be near her daughter Lisa. She missed Bud and Morristown, but made great friends at Stonebridge, maintained her apartment perfectly, saw her children regularly, planned festive birthday and holiday gatherings at The Nassau Club, and enjoyed her grandchildren's talents and busy lives. She never stopped being a friend to all.
Phyllis is survived by her children, Lisa Schmucki of Belle Mead, NJ, Ross and Kim Schmucki of Swarthmore, PA, Tina Schmucki and Francois Mitelberg of Manhattan Beach, CA; and grandchildren, Eleanor Oakes of Detroit, MI; Alex Schmucki and Melanie Wender of Elkins Park, PA, Chris and Jane Schmucki of Swarthmore; and Georges-Louis and Timothy Mitelberg of Manhattan Beach.
Family and friends are welcome to gather on Friday, May 18, 2018 from 2-4pm & 7-9pm at Burroughs, Kohr & Dangler Funeral Home, 106 Main Street, Madison. A Funeral Mass for Phyllis will be held on Saturday, May 19, 2018 at 10:30am at Church of Christ the King, 16 Blue Mill Road, New Vernon. Entombment will follow at Somerset Hills Memorial Park, Basking Ridge.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Women’s Association for Morristown Medical Center, P.O. Box 1956, 100 Madison Ave., Morristown, NJ 07962; or to The Auxillary to the Isabella McCosh Infirmary, P.O. Box 81, Princeton, NJ 08542.