Lily Phillips

Longtime Las Vegas resident LILY PHILLIPS passed away peacefully on July 11th, surrounded by her loved ones. London-born Lily was 93 years young, a woman who loved life, had a lively sense of humor, and was described by all who knew her as the sweetest woman they’d known. Lily was married to Max Phillips for 60 years, they were a “love match” from the day they met, and adored each other. They were popular members of the Las Vegas Jewish community. Lily, who often said that music was her life, was extremely proud of Max’s musical prowess – he was a virtuoso musician who played violin, clarinet and saxophone. He served as a violinist and Concert master on the Strip for many hundreds of show performances during the glory years of Las Vegas Strip entertainment. Their musical evenings at their home were legendary and included some of the Strip’s finest musicians. Lily’s daughter Pamela Phillips Oland is a professional songwriter who brought even more music into Lily’s life. Lily cherished the memory of meeting Frank Sinatra when he recorded a song of Pamela’s. Lily was one of four daughters of Fanny and Nathan Weitzman of London, England. Her sisters were Betty Rosenberg, Anne Cayzer, and Ethel Koulange. Lily lived a life surrounded by musicians and entertainers. She always got up and danced whenever anyone played a quickstep. She was also an accomplished artist, and an insightful essayist. She lived at Acacia Springs retirement resort for the past 7 years, where she always felt surrounded by loving and uplifting people, and made many cherished friends. Lily is survived by her daughter Pamela, of Los Angeles; great-nephew and niece Stephen & Norma Somers of Las Vegas; her nieces Diana Lawton-Browne, Pearl Chubb, Shirley Crisp and Hilary Hobbs of England; and her great-nephew Nathan Shomer of San Francisco. Lily will be interred at Woodlawn Cemetery, 1500 No. Las Vegas Blvd., next to her beloved Max, on July 13th 2017, at 10:30 am. Rabbis Felipe Goodman and Benny Katz will officiate at her funeral. “My mother’s life is one worth celebrating. What a tremendous woman she was, what a fine human being. She is irreplaceable in this world,” said her daughter.