Phyllis A. Hendry

Realtor, mother and grandmother, 77

Phyllis A. Hendry, 77, of Harding, New Jersey passed away on December 8, 2011 at Morristown Memorial Hospital.

Phyllis was born on March 24, 1934 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and lived in Chatham, New Jersey for 25 years before moving to Harding.

After graduating from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1956, and spending some time in Detroit, Phyllis moved to New York City to begin her career working as a buyer for Lord and Taylor. It was in New York that she met her late husband, William S. Hendry, Jr. Phyllis and Bill got married in 1958. They lived in Connecticut and spent a couple of years in the Philippines before moving to New Jersey in the early 1970s.

While living in New Jersey, Phyllis started a remarkable career in residential real estate. She began as a sales associate, winning numerous sales awards. Her success led to promotion to manager of the Madison and later Summit branches of Coldwell Banker. In addition, she served as president of the North Central Jersey Association of Realtors.

Phyllis touched many, many lives, had a large circle of friends and was always there for all of them. She was also an active volunteer in the Morris county area, serving as an officer of many charitable organizations including the Mad Chatters Twig (co-president), the NJ AB Chapter/Madison for the Philanthropic Educational Organization and the Morristown Junior League. It seemed that she became treasurer for every organization she was involved with. Phyllis brought her extraordinary energy, strength and organizational skills to so many different groups.

Phyllis was a remarkable and accomplished woman. She was devoted to her family and friends and all will miss her kind and generous spirit. Phyllis enjoyed so much of life—she was an avid bridge player; she loved travelling, the theater, the ballet, book club and museums. She also enjoyed playing golf with many of her friends at the Madison Golf Club and singing in the Grace Episcopal Church choir. Her family will tell you that she also was a first class emergency sitter for both children and dogs.

Phyllis is survived by her two loving sons, Scott Hendry and his wife Beth, of Morris Township, Stuart Hendry and his wife Vanessa, of Wilton, Connecticut and her five adoring granddaughters, Katie, Madison, Erin, Amanda and Jessica. Also surviving are her brother Lee Abernethy of Chicago, Illinois and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, William S. Hendry, Jr. and her mother and father, Roy and Florence Abernethy.