Obituaries

Elizabeth Bernadette Madden Phillips Elizabeth Bernadette Madden Phillips (Betty/Bess), 100 years and 55 days old, died July 28, 2024. The daughter of the late Elizabeth Brooks and John Madden, she was born on June 3, 1924, in New York City (Manhattan). She was predeceased by an infant son; her grandson Jacob Phillips; granddaughter Casie Whitcomb; special niece Katherine Bigley McGovern; and all her siblings, Katherine Bigley, Frank Madden, Thomas Madden, Edward Alfred Madden, and her former husband George Phillips. Growing up In New York she attended and graduated from Washington Irving School. As a young woman, she worked many jobs in the fashion industry. She was a millinery model at Saks Fifth Avenue for a while. One story she shared was that while working at a fashion house on Lexington Avenue she was employed as a model because she was the exact same size as an Eastern European Princess who would purchase clothes at Bloomingdales and other retailers and then have all the machine stitching removed and resewn by hand on Elizabeth, the live form. She married a sailor (USN) and they moved to Florida and then Rhode Island. After World War II, they were stationed at Norfolk, Virginia. Later, moving to Northern Virginia, she took a job with The Department of Defense and worked there for over 25 years. After retirement, while watching TV and knitting one evening with her family there was a blurb about someone in the news having a Top-Secret clearance with the government and without looking up, she said, “Oh I had that. I even had Above Top Secret.” Her family, shocked, said, “Mom! We never knew that.” She replied – “I know. You’re not supposed to tell.”  Also, after retirement, she worked at Lord & Taylor’s in their fashion department and became active in ‘Nellie’s Needlers.’ She traveled around the world with her family on various trips and cruises. A consummate artist throughout her life Bess always maintained her high sewing and knitting skills rising to designing and knitting her daughter’s wedding gown to rave reviews. Later she took up painting, quilting, tatting, and hardanger. Survivors include her son George, son Dennis and daughter Karen; grandchildren Zackary Phillips, Patrick Phillips, Kathleen Weaver, Jonathon Whitcomb; five great-grandchildren; a special nephew Frank Madden; and other nieces and nephews. Elizabeth was a faithful and generous Roman Catholic which sustained her through sad and challenging events as well as blessing her with gratitude for all the many happy times. Inurnment will be private.  The Clary Memorial Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.  Online condolences may be made at www.clarymemorialfuneralhome.com