Joan Mary Phillips

Joan was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on November 18th, 1928, to Harold and Cecilia Bonifas, joining older brother James Bonifas. Joan attended Holy Angels High School, now Divine Savior HS and recently established a scholarship fund endowment at Divine Savior. She graduated from Marquette University with a degree in Journalism. She met her first husband Jack at Marquette, and they married in August 1949. They moved to El Paso, Texas, and settled in the Upper Valley and welcomed their first 3 children. A few years later they moved to Houston and then moved back to El Paso in 1960. By then they had added 3 more children to the family. They were very active in the community, members of El Paso Country Club, and kept busy with 6 children under the age of 9. When her marriage to Jack ended, she worked in sales for a short time. She was set up on a blind date with Charles W. Phillips, a major in the US Army, by mutual friends. They married in 1965, and Chuck transferred to Los Angeles CA where they started a new adventure in Woodland Hills and added another daughter to the family.

Joan’s hobbies included genealogy, volunteering at the Southern California Genealogy Library for many years, bridge, entertaining and swing dancing. She loved the Green Bay Packers, college basketball, games and puzzles, gardening, reading and playing nickel slots at the casinos. She worked for many years managing the China and Crystal Department at Robinson’s department store. Her greatest joy was being with her family. She loved family celebrations and organized several reunions across the country. Her love for her family was immeasurable.

She is survived by her 6 children, Mike, Kathy (Bill), Mark (Pam), Joanie (Paul), John (Susan) and Patti (Jason),16 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren, and her nephews Jim and Bill Bonifas, and niece Sue Ganser.

She is preceded in death by her late husband Charles, and her son Kit (Melanie).

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Divine Savior High School, Milwaukee Wisconsin. Joan Bonifas Phillips Scholarship Fund.