Pamela Phillips

VERONA - Pamela B. “Pam” Phillips, age 91, of the Town of Middleton, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021, at Agrace HospiceCare in Fitchburg, Wis. She was born on March 5, 1930, the daughter of Victor and Doris (Richardson) Bunker in Bow Brickhill, England.

Pam attended Bedford High School for Girls in Bedford, England. She went on to The London School of Occupational Therapy, afterwards working as an occupational therapist in England and the U.S.

As a child during World War II, Pam was once watching planes at an airfield, saw and reported a suspicious person to her head mistress and so perhaps helped catch a spy. The accomplished author Mrs. AC Osborn Hann lived nearby and interviewed Pam and her sister Paddy about their experiences; and she then wrote the book, "Chris at Boarding School," dedicated to them both.  As teenagers, she and Paddy traveled to France together and were able to go to Picasso's art studio. Pam was an accomplished artist and was offered a place to study at the Tate Institute of Art but was unable to accept it. She always enjoyed drawing and painting animals and country scenes. She picked occupational therapy as a profession so that she could use her artistic talents to help others.

Pam was an animal lover, especially fond of dogs and horses. In her school days, she rode horses and played lacrosse and field hockey with distinction. Later she was a golfer, gardener, and birder. She enjoyed going to the theatre and traveling with her friends. Pam was an avid sports fan and loved watching Manchester United play soccer. She had strong opinions about players and managers and did not shy away from expressing them. She knew most of the names of the "Busby Babes" and once used that knowledge to earn a round of drinks in a bet with her waiter. She invented a new language while commenting on some players. There was much laughter about this.

Pam was a foodie! Her roast beef dinners, pigs-in-a-blanket, cream puffs, and most of all her Holiday Pies were highlights and will live on with her recipes. She was known to prepare excellent people food for her dogs as well. Pam loved a good meal with family or friends and always made them special with hours of cooking and prep beforehand.  

Pam was an enthusiastic reader; at her prime she would consume a novel a day.  Some of her favorites genres were murder mysteries involving small English towns mixed in with some international espionage. She also liked non-fiction books about science and sports. Her television also involved a lot of murder, again mostly in small English towns. Again, there was much laughter about this.

Mostly Pam just made people smile. Whether it was her accent, her Pam-isms, or just her magical charm, she made instant friends with everyone she met.  

Pamela is survived by her two daughters, Shelley (David) MacAusland and Nicola (Dan Murty) Myers-Murty; her son, Michael (Susan) Phillips; seven grandchildren, Elizabeth (John) Moore, Katie (Julian Tyo) MacAusland Tyo, Andrew (Ashley Lampman) MacAusland, Caroline MacAusland, Casey (Celeste Cope) Myers, Megan Phillips and Corinne Phillips; and seven great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Patricia Bunker Hoff, and she will be interred with them.

The family would like to thank Pam's friends, neighbors and Right at Home healthcare staff allowing her to live in her own home. The staff at Ingleside Assisted Living and Agrace HospiceCare were wonderful and supportive in her final months.

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson Fitchburg

Funeral & Cremation Care

2950 Chapel Valley Road

(608) 442-5002