Josephine M. Phelps

Josephine M. "Jodie" Phelps, 96, died in her Parkville, MD home in the Erickson Oak Crest Retirement Community on May 15, 2016, companioned by her loving daughters and nourished by video calls with her son not long before. She survived her beloved husband of 73 years, Theodore K. Phelps by three months, bringing a 12 year residence in Maryland to a close. Born in Lebanon, PA as Josephine Clare Milewski on August 12, 1919, she was the sole child of (US born) Mary Gappa Milewski and Polish immigrant, Chester Leon Milewski.

Her youth, teen years, and first two decades of marriage and child-rearing were in Chicago, IL, where her courtship with husband-to-be Ted began. A devoted spouse, mother and homemaker, Jodie created warm family homesteads in Kendall Park, NJ, Glen Ellyn, IL, Newark, DE and Columbus, OH, her favorite residential city.

Like husband Ted, Jodie was gifted with the written word: she created company newsletters during her secretarial work years, kept love and comfort alive in war-years correspondences, and made keepsake treasures of the letters and cards exchanged with family and friends over decades. She collected clippings of inspirational quotes, reflections and prayers for upliftment, and studied and employed natural remedies and health regimens. She arranged numerous golden years trips with Ted, journeying west ward to British Columbia, Alaska and Hawaii, and eastward through most of Europe. She is remembered for the classic confidence in her dress and style: a 1952 10th anniversary black gown adorned her again in 2000 for son Jim's 50th birthday, and she got to see each of her daughters wear her ivory satin wedding gown for their own betrothals.

Jodie's' pride and joy was her family. She is survived by daughters Mary Jo P. Metz of Wilmington, DE and Elaine K. Nieberding of Bel Air, MD, and son James Kendall Phelps of Charlotte, NC. She is also survived by grandchildren Cheryl Metz Simpson, Gwen Metz Fillmore, Lauren R. Phelps, James B. Phelps, Karl C. Nieberding, and great-grandchildren Cole Simpson, Drew Simpson and Francesca Fillmore.

A memorial service for Josephine and Theodore Phelps with interment is being held 11:30 am July 9, 2016 at Grandview Memorial Park, Lebanon, PA.

Condolences may be sent to 2031 McKinley Court, Bel Air, MD 21015., Elaine Nieberding/Reiking@aol.com.
Honor donations may be sent to Gilchrist Hospice, 11311 McCormick Rd., Ste. 350, Hunt Valley, MD 21031.