Cecelia Phillips
Cecelia Ann Phillips
November 1st 1956 – June 29th 2025
Cecelia Ann Phillips, age 68, passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 29 th 2025. She was born to the late Enid Anderson- Phillips and Gladstone Phillips on November 1st , 1956, in the parish of St. Andrew, Jamaica, West Indies. She was a dedicated catholic, deeply connected by her faith. Cecelia is survived by her father, Gladstone, sister Andrea, brothers, Gregory and Bradley, step mother Millicent, step sisters Michelle and Peta-Gaye. Cecelia is additionally survived by cousins who are more akin to brothers and sisters, to include Ronald and Bridgette, Trudy and Paul, Susan, Christine and Candace, Aunts Yvonne and Annette on the maternal side, along with numerous others on the paternal side of the family, a list too long to detail but to include Uncle Hopeton, Aunt Verna and Aunt Yvonne, cousins Brigette, Leighton, Wayne, Stanlene, Sharon to name a few. All our children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews were Cecelia’s children and she knew everyone.
Affectionately known as Cecile, Aunty Cecile, Aunty Ceci, Cecelia never married or bore any children of her own. She was married to her lord and savior, Jesus Christ and was deeply committed to her Roman Catholic faith. Cecelia was christened along with her three siblings at Holy Cross church, Half Way Tree, Kingston, Jamaica and was later confirmed at St Richard’s church. She attended St Francis primary school and later went on to Meadowbrook High school. With father Gladstone arranging for migration to New York, USA with her siblings in August 1974, Cecelia attended Bronx Community College, an institution that produced outstanding nursing professionals. That she was. She later went on to complete a bachelor of science degree in nursing at City University before embarking on a career at Manhattan Psychiatric Center-Ward’s Island New York. It was there while pursuing her passion as a registered nurse that she suffered injury at the hands of the very patients she committed to serving. This however did not deter her from being the service-oriented saint that she was. After continuing to work for a few more years, she was forced to retire disabled,
succumbing to injuries sustained in the incident. Cecelia continued to be connected to her profession through friends and classmates that were also in the nursing profession, to include Beverly and Bernadette, among others.
Cecelia was a member of the Holy Rosary Church choir and never missed practice, even when suffering from her injuries, or illness otherwise. It is significant to note that Cecelia was born on All Saints Day, November 1st , and that the Patron Saint of Music is Saint Cecelia. Seems it is not by chance she shared the name and had a deep love for music and dancing, in particular gospel music. I dare say she loved singing but was never the best songbird. A devoted Christian, she was not one to debate the Bible with you. She was steadfast in her faith and you would just not win. She loved her family, her church, her friends and served as the fabric that kept us all connected. If ever there was a rift between family members, Cecelia made it her mission to rebuild the bridge and reconnect. Whatever happened within the family, Cecelia made sure to enlighten or remind family members, be it a birthday, anniversary, graduation, birthing of a new family member or a family passing, Cecelia had the 411 and made sure we all had the 911. Though it seems a bit ironic that at the time of her passing she just did not have the 411, nor was she able to broadcast the 911, in our hearts we know that if ever anyone was ready to meet their Lord and Savior, Cecelia was.
Cecelia will be dearly missed by all who knew her. She will be remembered as the fabric that helped to keep the family bonded together, a true and loyal friend, great Aunty to all her nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, a generous person, deeply committed in her faith. She found joy in encouraging people to be strong, have faith in God, pray and stand up for what is right. Let us celebrate her life, the love and sacrifices she made for her family and those around her. Let us remember her for the saint of a person she was, her generosity, warmth, kindness and strong Christian faith. As we mourn her passing, let us be consoled in knowing she is at peace and amongst the angels in heaven.
Viewing will be held on Friday, July 11, 2025 from 4:00 – 8:00 P.M. at Farenga Bros Funeral Home, 920 Allerton Avenue, Bronx, NY 10469.
Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, July 12, 2025, at 9:45 A.M. at Holy Rosary Church, Bronx, NY
Interment to follow at Mt. Hope Cemetery, Hastings-on-Hudson, NY