Frances Maxine Phillips

Frances Maxine Phillips, 100, entered eternal rest on November 22, 2024, in Okemos, MI. She was born on September 3, 1924, in Luka, Kansas, to parents William "Frank" Francis Phillips and Ruby Dale Scott.

Frances was the firstborn of 5 children. She was preceded in death by her brothers Stanley, Benny and Gary. She is survived by her brother Calvin, son James (Rosemary), grandsons Stephen (Amanda) and Christopher (Ashley), and four great-grandchildren, Ryan, Anna, Archie and Enzo.

Frances excelled in school having won many awards for scholarship throughout her life. In college and graduate school she was mostly a straight A student. In her early life, she was very small in size. Thus the nickname “Tiny”. Both the Scotts and the Phillips were large clans. Frank, her father, had 10 siblings and

as a result, there were many cousins. Frank lost his farm during the Depression and the family moved to Mulvane, close to Wichita, Kansas. At that time Frances opted to stay with her grandmother, Della Scott in Pratt, Kansas, just south of Iuka, to complete her diploma and attend the local community college.

During World War II, there was an Air Force training base built in Iuka. Frances volunteered there and met her future husband, Sam Buscetta, who was stationed there as a Sergeant in the Medical Corps. They lived in Dearborn, Michigan until they divorced in the early 1970’s. They had one son, Jim Buscetta. Jim (Rosemary) have two sons Stephen and Christopher. Frances enjoyed spoiling her grandsons.

After receiving her Master’s Degree in Library Science she began working for Grace Hospital in Detroit as the Medical Librarian. Later, when Grace Hospital became part of the Detroit Medical Center, she became the Director of Library and Audio-Visual Services for that organization. A large part of her work consisted of literature searches for the doctors. She enjoyed the interactions and problem solving with the medical staff.

Singing played another important role in her life. She performed in various choirs and in various theatrical musicals throughout her early school years through junior college. She continued this love of music throughout her adult life including several years in the choir at Ward Presbyterian Church, in Livonia, MI

where she also served as a church deacon.

After retirement from the Medical Center Frances moved back to Kansas to take care of her mother and father. After they passed away she moved back to Michigan. She spent some time in Assisted living and spent her final years in the Ingham County Medical Care Facility before passing away in November.

A Graveside Service will take place on Tuesday, December 11, 2024, at 11 AM at Mulvane Cemetery. She will be buried next to her mother, father and 2 brothers. Most of her friends and family have preceeded her in death.