Mrs. Phyillis (Hamilton) Babb, 91 of Southbury, passed peacefully October 2nd at Pomperaug Woods Health Center. She was the beloved wife of Robert L. Babb for 50 years.
Mrs. Babb was born August 7, 1929 in Maquoketa, Iowa, a small farm town where she grew up as the only child of the late Rex and Adaline Hamilton, owners of the local grocery store.
Phyllis was the first in her family to attend university, graduating second in her class, only to her friend, future Buffalo Bills Coach Marv Levy, who Phyllis said had a photographic memory. While still in college, she was also elected Class Beauty Queen and caught the eye of a very smart and handsome bachelor, Robert. They got married, raised two children together, Patti and Timothy, all while Phyllis taught elementary school in Westfield, NJ for 25 years.
Phyllis loved to reminisce about her days on the farm as a little girl milking cows, and how she felt like she had finally “made it” when she came to the East Coast.
Phyllis moved to Southbury in 1993 to be closer to her daughter, and became a staple of the community, often planning and hosting social gatherings in Heritage Village, and playing piano at the Lutheran Church of Oxford. She later moved to Pomperaug Woods, and enjoyed communal dining, as she was quite the social butterfly.
Phyllis’ vivacious personality and sharp sense of humor always made her the life of the party. She loved to entertain and was the perfect hostess. Her house was always immaculate and her famous apple crisp was a family favorite.
She was an avid reader, a world traveler, and a crackerjack bridge player. She loved playing cards with her family, but you had to watch her closely; otherwise she’d “forget” to pick up a card in Uno. When confronted, she’d just innocently laugh.
Phyllis was always smiling. She laughed easily and often; it was a chuckle that could truly be felt and will really be missed. Even in her final days, she was dancing in the halls of Pomperaug Woods and singing in her bedroom. There is nothing more “Phyllis” than that.
Her light shone bright wherever she was, but especially within her small family. Robert called Phyllis his “Shero,” and there’s no better word. She was bold, strong, brave and smart. The loss our family feels is immeasurable, but so is the love left behind.
She is predeceased by her son, Timothy Babb. She is survived by her devoted daughter, Patti Harris and her partner Nicholas Lagamba of Torrington and 4 grandchildren, Elizabeth and Matthew Harris, and Molly (Babb) Haren and Megan (Babb) Langley, and Great Grandson, Sumner Langley, of Atlanta, Georgia.
A private burial service will be held on Saturday October 10, 2020 at 11am at New North Cemetery in Woodbury. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children.
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