Phyllis Cooney Warren Denham

Of Woodbridge, VA passed away peacefully Wednesday evening, January 6, 2016. Phyllis was born on June 3, 1930 in Dunmore, PA to the late Loretta Connor Cooney Kinsey and Philip Cooney and raised in Olyphant, PA. Preceded in death by her husband, Kirkwood H. Denham, infant son, Timothy Warren, Aunt Lucy and Uncle Bill Cooney, sisters, Judy Tycienski, Elaine Gordon, and Billie Sutter, and former husband, Robert J. Warren.

Phyllis was the eldest of seven daughters and graduated from St. Patrick's Catholic High School, Olyphant, PA, where she was a high school cheerleader and on the debate team, winning the senior high debate. Phyllis loved music and learned to play the piano as a young girl. She cherished her Yamaha Baby Grand and mastered classical music and Irish songs, playing throughout her adult life.

Two months before high school graduation, her father unexpectedly died. Unable to pursue her college dreams, she moved to Northern Virginia with her mother and six young sisters to work and keep the family together. In 1947, she and her mother began jobs at Ft. Belvoir with Phyllis beginning her work life at C&P Telephone Company as a switchboard operator. Prior to 1962, Phyllis held various executive assistant and accounting positions. From 1962-1979 she was the Executive Vice President of Alfred M. Bell & Associates in Washington, DC, a third party administrator of 17 jointly administered Taft-Hartley multiemployer health & pension trust funds providing employee benefits for approximately 20,000 union participants. Upon the assignation of their client contracts in 1979 to Weaver Associates, she became their Vice President/General Manager and a member of the Board of Directors for the Washington office for the next eight years. In 1988 she was appointed President and a member of the Board of Directors of Capital Benefit Administrators, a Williams Industries Insurance Trust, She retired on April 1, 1994.

Phyllis was a member of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, Lake Ridge, VA. For twenty plus years she was a loving and devoted hospice volunteer, working many of those years for Capital Caring Hospice at the Halquist In-Patient facility, Arlington, VA. She also did hospice work while living in Virginia Beach for eight years with Hospice Volunteers, Inc. In 1995, Phyllis graduated from the Harold J. Reilly School of Massotherapy and was nationally certified in therapeutic massage and bodywork. She did volunteer work for the Association for Research and Enlightenment (A.R.E.), the SFG Study Group Program, the Reilly School of Massotherapy, and the Cayce Foundation in Virginia Beach.

Phyllis relied on and talked frequently with her guardian angel, Otto. She was a spiritual lady with the gift of being a good listener and confidante to many. Her favorite color of blue made her the happiest and her home was always themed in it. She had the warmest and most giving heart and many were so touched by her words of kindness and encouragement. She wholeheartedly believed that the love you gave comes back to enfold you a thousand times over and she was always thankful to God for giving her the privilege and opportunity to touch someone's life in a meaningful way. She will be missed beyond measure.

Phyllis is survived by her children, Kathleen W. Cramer (Robert) of Frederick, MD, Robert Craig Warren (Beth) of Moneta, VA and Therese M. Cranwell (John) of Woodbridge, VA, stepchildren, James K. Denham and Janice McDonald, sisters, Callista Pittington, Lucille Rounsley and Grace McGraw and cousin (and spiritual sister), Mary Pat Cooney, grandchildren, Heather Lumsden (Michael), Janos A. Sipos (Carla), Robert E. Warren, Brett P. Warren (Chelsea), Keith Cramer (Anjy), Chris Cramer (Kelly) and Tara Glover (Ryan) and great grandchildren, Craig Keith Roberts, Carmen Lumsden, Sean Lumsden, Kirk James Lumsden, Mason Warren, Rylee Warren, Shan Cramer, Taylor Kraus Humpert, Spencer Kraus Merson, Cameron Cramer, Carsyn Cramer, Belle Glover, Nicholas Breymaier, Samantha Breymaier, Amelia Glover, Cross Glover and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to gratefully acknowledge and thank the very loving caregivers at Aspen Hill at Harbor House Assisted Living in Woodbridge where Phyllis resided for the last 16 months, as well as her Capital Caring Hospice team that looked after Phyllis in her final weeks.

Family and friends will gather at the National Memorial Park Funeral Home, 7482 Lee Highway, Falls Church, VA on Sunday, January 10, 2016 for visitation from 11:00 A.M. to Noon, followed by a memorial service onsite in the Chapel with Internment immediately thereafter. Reception to follow.

Memorial contributions may be made in Phyllis Denham's name to the National MS Society or Capital Caring.