Sarah A. "Sally" Phillips

Sarah A. “Sally” Phillips, died August 6, 2023 in The Villages, Florida with her children by her side.

Sally was born and raised in Rockford, IL, the daughter of Cecilia Genevieve Holland and Thomas L. Nolan. She graduated from Marquette University with a degree in Political Science. After college, including a semester in Vienna, Austria, Sally moved to San Francisco. She returned home to Rockford a year later to care for her mother who died the same year.
Upon returning home, Sally met John Phillips, who was a roommate to her brother TL in Chicago. John and Sally were married in 1963 and lived in Chicago, Cincinnati, and then settled in West Des Moines, IA where John started his law practice. Here, Sally and John met lifelong friends and raised their three children. John and Sally were happily married for 52 years. Sally was active in the DM Junior League and Dowling Catholic PTA. She enjoyed sewing, and spent numerous hours cheering for her kids and driving them to and from baseball and swim practice, gymnastics and more as they grew up. Later, Sally pursued her dream of studying art and graduated from DMACC with a degree in Commercial Art.

In 1992, Sally and John retired to Clearwater, FL where Sally continued her life’s passion painting (watercolor) and was an active member of the Florida Watercolor Society. She and John later moved to Leesburg, FL to be closer to grandchildren.

Sally will be remembered for her immense patience, quiet wisdom and practicality. And, as John used to say, for her ability “to squeeze a dime out of a nickel”.

She is survived by daughter, Anne (Joe) of Alexandria, VA, sons, JR (Laura) of West Des Moines, IA, and Tom of Palm Beach Gardens, FL; five grandchildren: Cole (21), Mia (19), Gavin (18), Sarah (18) and Anna (15); and brother-in-law, Patrick (Janet) Phillips of Chicago, IL.

Sally devoted much of her love and energy in retirement to caring for both John, who died in 2016, and then her brother, TL who died in 2018.

A visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Thursday, September 7, 2023 at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway in West Des Moines. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, September 8 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 1627 Grand Avenue in West Des Moines followed by a luncheon. There will be a private burial at Glendale Cemetery in Des Moines.

Memorial contributions may be directed to Vistas Hospice, or to the family in loving memory of Sally. Online condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

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