Phylis Ruth Biddiscombe

Phylis was born on April 12, 1927 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the first child of Philip Pagel and Hilda (nee Debow) Pagel. Phylis’ early years were spent growing up on her grandparents’ homestead farm in Kiel, Wisconsin. She graduated from Kiel High School and received her Bachelor of Business Administration Degree from the University of Wisconsin in June 1950.

She was predeceased by her parents and her husband Carl F. Biddiscombe, who passed away on November 4, 2000. They were married on May 9th, 1964 at Blessed Sacrament Church in Los Angeles.

Phylis is survived by her sister Donna J. Erdman, currently of Kiel, Wisconsin and her sister’s three children; Randy Erdman (Florida), Sherry Lee Wiese (Wisconsin) and Cindy Roska (Wisconsin) and their families. Her sister in law Mary Biddiscombe (widow of Joseph Biddiscombe) of Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada and her three children Susan Barton (Grand Lake, NB), Timothy Biddiscombe (Ottawa, ON) and Catherine Moulton (Fredericton, NB) and their families and the seven children of her late sister in law Mary K. (Biddiscombe) Riley of Saint John, New Brunswick: Daniel J. Riley (Ottawa, ON), Patrick T. Riley, Karen A. Riley and Kathleen M. Karamanos (Saint John, NB), Maura E. Halpin and Kevin M. Riley (Halifax, NS) and Sean P. Riley (Vancouver, BC) and their families. Phylis is also survived by her lifetime friend Pearl Schmidt of New Holstein, Wisconsin. Pearl played the saxophone and Phylis played the flute in the Kiel Municipal Band during their high school years.

Phylis moved to California and became the Executive Assistant to the Managing Partner of the Los Angeles office of McKinsey & Co, an international Management Consultant company, for thirty years until she retired in 1989.

Carl and Phylis lived in South Pasadena in Los Angeles until they retired and moved to Laguna Niguel, Orange County. She loved walking, travelling and found beauty in simplicity.

The family wish heartfelt thanks to Odile Moreno, RN who provided compassionate support to Phylis since the beginning of her health problems in 2007 and to Somuta Nguon for her daily faithful and loving caregiver service since January 2013. Special thanks to Milo (Riley) Moy who delayed her teaching degree for five months to help care for Phylis in 2007. Our sincere thanks also go to Dr. Michael Haga for his sensitive and kind guidance. The staff in the Covington Courtyard have been consistently attentive and friendly looking after Phylis over the years and in the end we were grateful to the staff at Sea Crest Hospice Care Services.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St Timothy’s Catholic Church, 29102 Crown Valley Pkwy, Laguna Niguel, CA on Friday May 4th, 2018 at 12pmnoon, presided by Monsignor John Urell, Pastor of St. Timothy’s. Following Mass, Monsignor Urell will administer the Burial Rite at Sunset Court in Pacific View Memorial Park, 3500 Pacific View Dr, Corona del Mar, CA. In lieu of flowers, a donation to your Church or one of your favorite charities would be appreciated.