Bonnie Candy Phillips' Obituary
Bonnie Candy Phillips, 76, of Edgewater Park, NJ, passed away on April 28, 2020. Dear wife to David A. Phillips for 54 years. Loving mother to Sandra Phillips, Pamela Phillips, and Jim Phillips (Heather). Devoted grandmother to Austin Phillips and Alexa Whyte. Sister to Vernon G. Candy (Joan). Aunt to Heather Schafer (Kenneth), Samantha Savage, and Katie Beers (Joe) and great aunt to their seven children. Daughter of the late Vernon L. and Annette H. Candy.
Bonnie had a very interesting and varied career over many years of employment. Over the course of her professional life she was a teacher and substitute teacher of elementary and junior high school children. She led a Charter Study Commission to recommend a change in the form of government in Edgewater Park Township, NJ. She wrote articles and edited local weekly newspapers for two communities, and assisted in the production and printing phases of the newspapers. She worked in a shelter for victims of domestic violence and assisted in locating safe housing and advocating for them. But perhaps the most important achievements in Bonnie’s career were improvements to sub-standard housing in three neighborhoods where she administered Neighborhood Preservation Grants from the state of New Jersey.
Bonnie also had a consistent history of volunteerism, political activism, and general community involvement. As a young mother, she volunteered for an organization of women that was formed to improve the environment in the state of New York by reducing the pollution of Lake Erie caused by phosphates in detergents. Later she helped educate and lobby for a bill in New York that encouraged recycling. Among her activities in the community in New Jersey, Bonnie volunteered for the local school district Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) where she often was liaison between the PTA and local newspapers.
Bonnie was loved by everyone who knew her. She helped anyone who needed it. She learned how to play the piano in her childhood and she played it and sang often throughout her life; one of her favorites was “Over the Rainbow.” She was an excellent singer, even later in life. She enjoyed going on drives to see scenery and new places. She enjoyed the ocean, beach and boardwalk at Avalon and Ocean City, NJ, and influenced her children to like these things too. Small furry animals were her favorites, especially squirrels, guinea pigs and chinchillas. She liked to take charge and do things her way. She was notably pleasant to talk with—and boy could she talk!
Due to current circumstances, a private memorial service will be held and a public memorial service will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Alzheimer’s Association. For more information and to share your favorite memories of Bonnie, please visit Givnish.com
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