Janice Irene (Hunt) Phillips passed away at her home in Marblehead on March 16. Born on Jan. 18, 1932, in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. She was the daughter of Jack and Irene Hunt and the sister of Howard Hunt.
Janice lived a life full of adventure, warmth and deep connection to the people and communities she loved. From her father, Jack, she inherited an appreciation for music and a passion for sports. She was a competitive athlete her whole life, focusing first on tennis and then skiing and golf. She skied all over the world and enjoyed her weekends at Mt. Blanc in Canada and subsequently at Cannon and Attitash after moving to the U.S. in 1975.
Janice was a proud graduate of the University of Western Ontario, earning her bachelor’s degree in 1954. The following year, she married the love of her life, Derwyn Phillips, in 1955. Together, they built a life that spanned continents and decades, sharing in each other’s joys and supporting one another through every chapter.
Those who knew Janice knew a woman with a powerful personality and an even bigger heart. She had a gift for empathy, a genuine ability to make people feel seen and cared for. Her circle of friends was enormous, and her family was tight-knit and close, held together in no small part by her loving presence. Janice traveled the world with curiosity and enthusiasm, collecting experiences and stories that she shared generously with those around her.
She was an avid sports fan and an accomplished athlete in her own right, passionate about skiing, golf and tennis. She was a member of the Tedesco Country Club and the Corinthian Yacht Club for many years. Her garden was a source of pride and peace, a reflection of the care she put into everything she touched.
Janice dedicated decades of volunteer service to Salem Hospital in Massachusetts, and before that, she was an active contributor to the Junior League in Montreal, Canada. Her charitable spirit was a defining part of who she was.
Janice was a 33-year seasonal resident of Vero Beach, Florida, where she and her husband Derwyn were members of the Moorings Club, Hawks Nest Golf Club and the Quail River Club. She had a wonderful group of friends there and was very active in that community.
Janice and her family also spent a great deal of time at Vail and Beaver Creek, Colorado, which had an important place in her heart. Her grandchildren learned to ski there, and she shared a number of wonderful experiences with her family while at the mountain.
Janice is survived by her beloved husband, Derwyn Phillips; her children, Tim and his wife Jill, Laurie Allard, whose spouse was the late Leo Allard, and Jay and his wife Michelle; her grandchildren, Tucker and Jackson Allard, Nikki and Jaclyn Phillips, and Maika Gordon, Tyler Dolben and Nickolas Phillips. She also leaves three great grandchildren, Callahan Lohrer and Myles and Greta Gordon. She will be deeply missed by the many friends and family members whose lives she enriched.
Memorial services will be on April 10 at 10 a.m. at St. Andrew’s Church in Marblehead, followed by a reception at Tedesco Country Club at noon.
May she rest gently in God’s grace and may the melody of her life continue to bring comfort to all who loved her.
