She was born on July 23, 1935, in Springfield, the second oldest daughter of Paul Joseph and Lily May (Hawkins) Hunn. Paula married Derward S.L. “Dodo” Phipps, Jr. on June 14, 1958. He tragically preceded her in death on February 8, 1965. She was married to Raymond Phipps from 1970 to 1984. She later married Thomas J. Denny, her high school sweetheart, on November 30, 1994 in Springfield with whom she enjoyed a long and happy 29 year marriage until her death.
She was known as “Petey” growing up in Springfield and was a graduate of Sacred Heart Academy where she was the Senior Class President and Homecoming and Prom Queens. Paula and her three sisters, Mitzie, Alice, and Margie were known as “The 4 Million” for their singing, dancing, and conviviality. Paula loved Emily Post etiquette, beautiful home interiors, and table settings. She believed that at the heart of good manners was making others feel at ease. She had a very warm and loving view of everyone and could make anyone feel important and like they belonged wherever she went.
Paula worked for the FBI and later in advertising for the State-Journal Register newspaper, retiring in 1998. She was a former Girl Scouts leader for over 20 years, was the President of the St. Joseph’s Home Coterie, was a Sustainer in the Junior League of Springfield, and was a benefactor and volunteer of the Springfield Art Association. She was a longtime member of the Island Bay Yacht Club (IBYC), a volunteer with the St. John’s Samaritans for many years, a devoted parishioner at Blessed Sacrament Church where she served for years in the Altar and Rosary Guild, and a member of St. Agnes in her later years. She loved arts and crafts, playing bridge, entertaining her friends and her children’s friends, finding special gifts for her grandchildren, long walks, and being involved in the planning and throwing of fabulous parties and get-togethers, including the annual Nun’s Picnic at the IBYC.
She loved God and she loved being in the Catholic community as a servant to others in her years of volunteering. She could sing church hymns like an angel, was never a braggart, and left a legacy of graciousness and loving memories of how to be kind and how to give to others...and how to wear red lipstick.
She was preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Mary Louise “Mitzie” Smith Collins and Alice Flaherty; infant siblings, Paul Hunn and Lily Hunn; first husband, Derward S.L. Phipps, Jr., second husband, Raymond Phipps, and step-grandson, John Denny.
Paula is survived by her husband, Thomas Denny of Springfield; her beloved sister, Marjorie Hunn of Bettendorf, IA; and children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, step-children, and step-grandchildren. Her children: Louise Phipps (William) Senft of Baltimore, MD; Derward S.L. “Tripper” (Laura) Phipps III of Bloomington, IL; Elizabeth Phipps (William) Sanborn of Bethesda, MD; William (Kathleen) Phipps II of West Grove, PA; and Lillian Phipps (Benjamin) Johnston of Skokie, IL; her grandchildren: Paula (Michael) Easton, Peter “Pete” (Madeline) Senft, Derward “Dewey” (Margaret) Senft, Archer Senft, William “Dutch” Senft, Elizabeth (Joe) Saraceno, Rosie Phipps, Daniel Phipps, Lt. David Phipps USMC, Lily Sanborn, John “Jack” Sanborn, Ellery Berenger, Louise “Charlotte” Phipps, Hawkins Phipps, Mabel Johnston, Alice Johnston, and Dorothy Johnston; her great-grandchildren: Phipps Ann Easton, Grace Saraceno, Joe Saraceno, Jr., and Lucy Saraceno; her step-children: Teresa Denny of Riverton, IL, Bobby Denny of Springfield, IL, and Maureen Denny of Coeur d’Alene, ID; her step-grandchildren: Bridget Curren, Cecelia McAfee, and Isabelle McAfee.
A Memorial Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 18, 2023 at St. Agnes Catholic Church, 245 N. Amos Avenue, Springfield, IL. A Celebration of Life with storytelling will follow the service at St. Agnes Parish Hall.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, https://www.alz.org/ and the Springfield Art Association https://www.springfieldart.org/.
The family is being served by Butler Funeral Home – Springfield, 900 S. 6th St., Springfield.
