Passed peacefully away at the Baie Verte Hospital on May 22, 2022, Mary Josephine (Phene) Lewis, age 96 years.
Predeceased by her parents, Francis (Frank) and Elizabeth (Lizzie) Lewis; husband, John (Jack) Lewis; daughter, Bernice Elliott; granddaughter, Samantha Walsh; sisters, Johanna Shaw, Marie Jones and Lillian Walsh.
Leaving to mourn with a lifetime of loving and treasured memories are her children: Sheila Drover (Ted), James Lewis (Rhoda), Jacinta Tallon (Bill, deceased), Marion Pinksen (Kevin, deceased), Marie Lewis (Jim Wong), Dorothy Barrett (Steve), Mildred Walsh (George, deceased), Nicola Raycraft (Brent), son-in-law, Harold Elliot, her grandchildren and great grandchildren: Tammy (Kara), Chad, Elizabeth, Aaron, Sheila (Ben & Anna), John (Peyton, Paige & William), Paul (Brendan (Liam) & Dylan), Kelly (Ashley & Tanner), Jennifer (Rachel & Kerah), Jackie (Cole & Abigal), Sandy (Mark), Natasha (Kinsley, Kane & Kash), Brittany (Beynon), special nephews, Tom Walsh & Elias Lewis; special niece, Catherine Shaw; countless friends with special mention of Yvonne Downey who was like her daughter.
Josephine, known as Phene or Aunt Phene, was born and lived a full and rich life in the small community of Fleur-de-Lys on the Baie Verte Penisula. As a young woman she taught school in nearby Coachman’s Cove and worked in the Fleur-de-Lys post office during World War II, where she copied and posted the war news. After the war, she married Jack Lewis, who had returned from the war, where he served as a leading seaman in the Royal Navy. Together, they raised their large family through hard work, love and discipline, and instilled in all a strong work ethic, self-sufficiency and generosity towards others. While raising her family, Phene’s days were often overflowing with tending vegetable gardens, feeding chickens and goats, hay making, spreading salt fish, cleaning, embroidery, knitting, sewing, cooking and baking. She was well-known for her delicious chocolate cake with mint icing and her children’s friends knew there would be piece for them if they just happened to drop by for a Sunday visit. In later years, reminiscing about her life and the lives of her women friends, she said “we worked hard, but we were no worse for it, in fact it made us stronger”. She was at her happiest and most relaxed when she was with nature – in her flower garden, watching and feeding the birds, ice fishing & trouting, hiking the trails and berry picking with her many friends, young and old and with her children. When she could no longer pick berries, she eagerly awaited for Dorothy, Millie & Marie to bring home gallons of blueberries and partridgeberries , which she helped clean, sitting around her kitchen table laughing and telling stories. She was an inspiration to all of a life well-lived to the utmost fullest – she will be sadly missed.
Visitation and viewing will take place at St. Theresa’s Church Parish Hall on Tuesday, May 24th, from 7PM to 9PM, followed by a reception.
Funeral services and Mass will take place on May 25th at 11AM; interment to take place at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Phene’s name to support the Fleur-de-Lys fire department: townoffleurdelys@gmail.com
Funeral Arrangements have been entrusted to Sunset Memorial Funeral Home, 22 Main Street, Baie Verte, NL.
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Mary Josephine Phene Lewis May 22nd 2022..
Death notice for the town of: Baie Verte, Province: T-N