Phyllis Malkiewicz

Phyllis Wactor (Marie) Malkiewicz, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, passed away on November 11, 2024, in Stafford, VA, at the age of 66. Phyllis courageously battled ovarian cancer for more than 3 and a half years and hoped that her participation in five clinical trials would help countless women in the future.

Phyllis was born on September 20, 1958, in Evanston, IL, to Philip R. Wactor, Jr., and L.V. (Bell) Wactor, who preceded her in death. She was surrounded by her loving husband, Steve, and their two sons, Ryan and Jason, at the time of her passing.

Phyllis met the love of her life, Steve, while attending Dover High School in Delaware. The couple’s bond grew into a partnership spanning more than 52 years, including a 42-year marriage. Phyllis pursued her passion for education at Winthrop College (now Winthrop University), where she earned a Master’s Degree in Education. Her life’s work was dedicated to teaching, mentoring, and nurturing young minds. Phyllis taught at numerous institutions, including Tower Hill School (DE), Red Apple Preschool (Stafford), and George Mason University’s (GMU) Prince William Campus. She particularly enjoyed leading summer camp cooking classes, bringing her creativity and warmth to young learners.

With her quick wit and talent for storytelling, Phyllis was known for her ability to captivate and bring laughter to any gathering. She retired in July 2024 after a 19-year career as Children’s Program Specialist at GMU, leaving a lasting impact on her colleagues and students. In retirement – as is true of her entire life – Phyllis cherished her time with her family, granddaughters, grand pups, and occasionally even several grand cats.

Phyllis is survived by her devoted husband, Steve; her sons, Ryan (Ashley) and Jason (Jerilyn); her adored granddaughters; her sister, Elva (Mark) Damron; and many cherished extended family members and friends.

A service celebrating Phyllis’ life will be held on November 22, 2024, at 11:00 AM at Mullins & Thompson Funeral Service, 186 Shelton Shop Rd., Stafford, VA 22554. During the service, guests are invited and encouraged to share memories and stories of Phyllis. The family will receive guests beginning at 10:00 AM.

Phyllis will be deeply missed but fondly remembered by all who were touched by her kindness, intelligence, and unbreakable spirit.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the American Cancer Society, honoring Phyllis’ courage and resilience, at https://donate.cancer.org or Stand Up To Cancer, at https://standuptocancer.org