Mary T. Phillips

Mary Teresa (Luszcz) Phillips, 92, died peacefully on Saturday, June 7, 2025, at Baystate Medical Center after a brief illness. Born in Chicopee to the late John and Theresa (Deren) Luszcz, she was the youngest of six children, predeceased by all of her siblings, Thaddeus Luszcz (Jeannette), Joseph Luszcz, Jean Sczepanik (Steve), Helen Skiba (Edward), and Ann Cyboron (Chester). She was predeceased by her beloved husband of 69 years, Jack D. Phillips, in 2021.
Mary graduated from Chicopee High School in 1950. She was a secretary for many years, working at Westover Air Force Base where she met her future husband Jack, and Berkline Furniture Company in Chicopee. In her 40s she graduated from Tri-County Tech Community College in North Carolina to pursue a new career in hairdressing. Mary worked as a hair stylist at Cinderella Beauty Shop in NC and then at the JC Penney Salon at Eastfield Mall for 14 years, “retiring” in 1995. She worked in her home beauty shop until her illness. But Mary would say her primary role was wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother.
Mary loved God, her family, her church, friends, and a good party. Her annual Christmas parties are legendary in the family. She had line danced twice a week for years, faithfully. She enjoyed knitting, crocheting, cooking, especially her famous pierogi. She adored her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and in-laws.
She never wavered in her faith in God and Jesus, demonstrated in her love for others and the church. Hair styling was a ministry for her, as was her unique way of making people feel special in her presence.
No one will ever forget her. We are comforted to know she is with God, our Dad and all her loved ones who've gone ahead.
Mary recently wrote in her memoir “To describe my philosophy of life is difficult. As long as I can remember, I have embraced and tried to follow a special verse of Ralph Waldo Emerson, which reads, ‘the purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.’”
She will be dearly missed by her children Sheila Somers (John) of West Springfield, Marjorie Rudolph (Richard) of Wilbraham, Mark Phillips (Andrea Peyser) of Simsbury, CT, Natalie Siemaszko (Corky) of Montclair, NJ and Jacqueline Bishop (Steven) of Amherst, ten grandchildren; Nathan (Althea), Melissa (Jake), Heather (Jennifer), Ashley (Brian), James (Jessica), Lisa (Kevin), Aleks (Maddy), Hanna, Eliza and Joshua and nine great grandchildren; Jack, Charlie, Will, Claire, Adam, Owen, Olivia, Jeremy and Maddie.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, June 15th from 2-5PM at Wilbraham Funeral Home, 2551 Boston Rd., Wilbraham. Family and friends may meet for Mary’s Funeral on Monday, June 16th at 11AM at Trinity United Methodist Church, Springfield. Committal Service will follow at 1PM at MA Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery, 1390 Main St., Agawam. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Trinity United Methodist Church, 361 Sumner Ave., Springfield, MA 01108.