Funeral Service
Bangs Funeral Home, Inc.-
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Email Details
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209 W Green St.
Ithaca, New York 14850 -
Visitation prior beginning at noon. Masks must be worn and social distancing guidelides adhered to.
March
26,
1929
26,
1929
April
08,
2021
08,
2021
Phyllis S McNeill, 92, passed peacefully on April 8 th , 2021 at the Cayuga Nursing and Rehabilitation Center after a period of deteriorating health.
She was born March 26 th , 1929 in Ithaca NY to Mildred Beckwith and Phillip Stillman. Phyllis graduated from Ithaca High School at the age of 15 and took a graduate year because she could not begin working at the Ithaca Savings Bank until age 16.
Phyllis met her husband, Keith McNeill when he was depositing his GI Bill checks in the bank while he was earning his degree at Ithaca College. Phyllis and Keith were married in September of 1948. They had been married for 57 years when Keith passed away in 2005.
Phyllis left the Ithaca Savings Bank to work with Keith at Sullivan & McNeill, she then worked for Dr. C Lee Sprinkle as his receptionist and secretary, and ultimately returned to Citizens /M&T Bank as a supervisor. While working fulltime Phyllis pursued her passion for learning, earning her Associates Degree in Science from TC3 and then her Bachelors Degree in Arts from SUNY Binghamton. She was an avid reader and was always taking courses on things she was interested in knowing more about.
After retiring from M&T Bank Phyllis quickly filled her days bowling and golfing with her friends, participating in both until she was 90. She loved history, especially Tompkins County history. She volunteered at the History Center and at the PRI as well as being an active supporter of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and MANY other organizations around the world. As a breast cancer survivor she added the Cancer Resource Center of the Finger Lakes and yoga to her schedule. Phyllis absolutely loved things that stimulated her mind; mahjong, scrabble, card games, crossword puzzles, Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune. She was always having lunch with friends from high school, the bank, classes she had taken, or other groups and organizations she participated in.
The home that she and Keith had built at 139 Oakwood Lane in 1965 gave her great pride and enjoyment. She loved watching the deer, feeding the birds and seeing the plants and flowers they had planted over the years flourish. Phyllis was able to live there until just recently.
Phyllis is survived by her sister Vera Oakes of Vermont, her sister Mary Mahoney (John) of Florida, her brother David Stillman of Trumansburg, her daughters Laura Davis (Charlie Young) of Ithaca, Brenda Evans (Eddy) of Skaneateles, her grandchildren Marc Davis (Lauren), Amity Winters (Justin), Melissa Rodriguez (Gerardo), Parker Evans (Christie), her great grandchildren; Annabelle and Clementine Davis, Desmond and Julian Winters, Jack and Remi Rodriguez, and Isaac Evans, and numerous nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Phyliss' memory may be made to either Lifelong 119 W. Court St., Ithaca, NY 14850 or the Cancer Resource Center of The Finger Lakes, 612 W. State St., Ithaca, NY 14850.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Phyllis Stillman Mcneill, please visit our flower store.