Phyllis Mary Bennett

A Life Well Lived and Well Loved

Phyllis was born to Edward J. and Phyllis Dorothy (Bojanowski) Morzynski on February 25, 1931 in Chicago, Illinois. Together with her sister Dolores she grew up and went to school there. She was very proud of her Polish ancestry.

She attended St. Wenenslus, St. Constance, and St Hyacenth Catholic Schools, and Foreman Senior High School, where she graduated from in 1948. After graduation she worked for the Auto Club in Chicago with her best childhood friend Dody, which they remained friends until Dody’s passing. One of Phyllis and Dody’s favorite pastimes was to work at the USO in Chicago. It was there that she met her future husband, George Bennett, a Marine serving in Korea.

They were married in July 1953, in Pasadena, CA. They were the first marriage performed by the young priest Rev. Fr. Peter Healy. Her childhood friend Dody was the Maid of Honor and the father of the priest served as Best Man. George and Phyllis had 3 children: Michael, Cheryl, and Jeffrey. They lived in Pasadena for a while, then purchased their first house in Covina. In 1969 they moved to La Verne, and then Alta Loma in 1986, where they remained. Until George’s death. Phyllis then moved to a 55+ apartment, and then into an assisted living home, where she maintained most of her independence, including driving, until the COVID -19 pandemic forced her into lockdown. She liked it there and enjoyed poker and bingo. She was also active on the Resident’s Committee, where she held the offices of Secretary, Vice President, and then President. She was well loved by the staff and other residents.

George and Phyllis were active in Church, where Phyllis worked in the office and teaching CCD while George arranged for the building of baseball fields and out-buildings at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Irwindale. Phyllis taught CCD and worked as a substitute teacher at Holy Name of Mary Church in San Dimas, and at St. Peter and St. Paul in Alta Loma. She loved second grade and preparing kids for their First Holy Communion the best. She was also a member of the Holy Name of Mary Church Choir.

She always wanted to be a teacher. Phyllis attended Citrus College on a part-time basis, attending classes during the day while the kids were at school, and at night. One class that she struggled with was biology. She would work on her dissection project on the patio table outside. She also would go to the convent of 2 nuns that were in her class, taking kids (7th and 4th graders at the time) along to tutor all 3 of them in genetics. She received her Associate of Arts from Citrus College in Azuza around 1971.

Phyllis loved her grandchildren and babysat them while Cheryl was finishing college. After that, she worked for Los Angeles County Schools as a teaching assistant for 15 years, working with emotionally handicapped high school students. She really enjoyed it, even after tripping over a student and breaking her arm. She had a good rapport with her students, which allowed for her to talk a student down and take a gun from him. She retired from that job in order to take care of George after having back surgery.

Phyllis was active in the community as well, supporting her kids’ activities. She could often be found at Little League and high school baseball games, in the stands cheering on her sons and their team-mates and working the snack bar. She attended softball games and 4-H meetings with her daughter. She also attended the sporting events and school activities of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

They loved Quakes Baseball, had players live with them for several years, and were named the very first Fans of the Decade by the Quakes. Instead of celebrating their 50th Wedding Anniversary with a party that their children wanted to provide, they chose to go watch the Quakes play. During the game they were featured on the big screen as Tremor handed them a large bouquet of flowers. As far as they were concerned that was the perfect way to celebrate their wedding anniversary.

Phyllis was immensely proud of her husband being a Police Officer, as well as both her sons and a grandson. She was never without wearing a set of handcuffs pin, which she had many of and gave them away to others. She kept in touch with several of George’s partners and fellow officers throughout the years, even after George’s passing. She loved to tell stories about his antics on the department.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Phyllis Morzynski, her sister Dolores, and her husband of 56 ½ years, George, and great-granddaughter Megan Ann. She also greatly felt the loss of her and George’s beloved dog Bubba, the Dachshund that went everywhere with them, even where dogs weren’t allowed. She is survived by her 3 children: Michael {Sharon) Bennett, Cheryl (Daniel) Pearson, and Jeff (Lisa) Bennett, 5 grandchildren: Kristine (Donald) Yoder, Kimberly (Dan) Opbroek, Michael Bennett, Jr., Jacob (Alexis) Bennett, and Kaitlin Guerrero, as well as 11 great-grandchildren.

90 years is a long life. We celebrated her 90th birthday in February, when CO-VID 19 restrictions were just beginning to be lifted so Phyllis was allowed to come outside to be near her kids, grandkids, and great grandkids, 4 generations together (socially distanced, of course). She loved her family and helped them in any way she could.

We are grateful to Sunrise Senior Living of Alta Loma for the wonderful care they took of Mom. She was well respected and loved by the staff, who treated Phyllis as if she were their own mother/grandmother. They made her feel welcomed and matched her with other residents who became good friends. Mom spoke highly of the staff members and always had a bowl of candy to offer to anyone who came to her room. Her room was roomy and bright with large windows so she could see the mountains where she lived with George for close to 30 years in their Alta Loma house. It was a wonderful place to live out her final 6 years.

Services will be held on July 20, 2021, beginning at 11:00 a.m. with a Mass at the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, 9135 Banyan St., Rancho Cucamonga, CA. Following will be a brief service at Riverside National Cemetery, 22495 Van Buren Blvd., Riverside, CA at 2:15 pm. The Rev. Fr. Patrick Kirsch presiding. She will be inurned with her husband George, whom she missed greatly.

Phyllis was loved greatly and will be missed by her family and friends.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that you make a donation to The American Legion, a Children’s Hospital, or Fr. Flanagan’s Boys Town, or your favorite charity.