Obituary of Phyllis Younger

Phyllis died Monday, November 28, 2011 at Grand River Hospital, Kitchener, from complications arising from PSP, progressive supranuclear palsy. She was born March 18, 1938 in Cincinnati, Ohio, the younger of two daughters born to Wilma and Stanley Koch. Phyllis is the wife of Dan Younger; mother of Kirsten Younger (Charles Williams), Benjamin Younger (Deborah Cope) and Meredith Younger; grandmother of Scarlett and Nathaniel; and sister of Wilma Martin of Acworth, Georgia. Phyllis began to play the piano at an early age, and became a skilled accompanist. Upon graduation from Western Hills High School, she studied at the College Conservatory of Music, receiving a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Cincinnati in 1960. She then began a teaching career at Maple Dale School in the Cincinnati area. She there met Florence Brennemann, and reconnected with Mary Ann Hansen, whom she had gotten to know earlier. The three joined to study for Master Degrees at Teacher College, Columbia University. In July 1961, she and Dan Younger met when they both joined the University Chorus, which rehearsed each weekday for six weeks, for a performance of Bach's "St. Matthew Passion". Four years later, in July 1965 she and Dan were married, at James Memorial Chapel, Union Theological Seminary, New York City. They first lived in Schenectady, New York, where Phyllis taught music in the schools. In 1967, they moved to Waterloo, for Dan to take a position at the University of Waterloo. When her children were grown, Phyllis took up teaching piano from her home. She taught students ranging from beginners to the higher-grade levels of the RCM; her students did well in the Kiwanis Festival competitions. She loved opera: Saturday afternoons in the fall and winter always found her listening to the performances on CBC. She read a lot: besides books on music, there were novels; her favourite authors were Sigrid Undset and Jane Austen. She had a passion for flowers and nurtured them in the spring and summer. Phyllis was a member of Trinity United Church in Kitchener. Memorial visitation will be held at the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home, 171 King St. S., Waterloo on Friday from 7-9 p.m. The Memorial Service to celebrate Phyllis' life and faith will be held at Trinity United Church, 74 Frederick St., Kitchener on Saturday, December 3, 2011 at 11 a.m. with Rev. Jack Paleczny officiating. A reception will follow at the church. Condolences for the family and donations to the Parkinson Society or the Multiple Sclerosis Society may be arranged through the funeral home at www.erbgood.com or 519-745-8445.