Phyllis Bibeau

Phyllis M. Bibeau, cherished mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend, passed peacefully on Monday, August 29, 2022 at the age of 92. Phyllis was preceded by her beloved husband, Fernand; and their infant son, John; parents, Flora McCay Siegel and George F. Siegel; sister, Flora Neubert; and brother, Wilbur Siegel.  She is survived by three children and their spouses, Daniel and wife, Cheryl, David and wife, Mary, and Jane Harvey and husband, Jeffrey; eleven grandchildren; and sixteen great-grandchildren. Phyllis is also survived by her sister-in-law, Bonnie Bibeau; and treasured cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Phyllis was born in Detroit, Michigan on Sunday, September 1, 1929. She moved to Ashville, North Carolina where she and Fernand met. They married and settled in Albuquerque, falling in love with the Southwest.

Phyllis retired from AT&T after 25 years as a telephone operator.  She was passionate about working with veterans and was a Life Member of the Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary Unit 32. Over the span of 30 years, she volunteered nearly 7,000 hours at the Raymond G. Murphy VA Medical Center in Albuquerque. Phyllis led the weekly Therapeutic Writing Group at the Albuquerque VA and served as the National Writing Aide for the Veterans' Voices publication. In recognition for her volunteer work Phyllis was awarded the National Pen Award from Hospitalized Veterans' Writing Project (Veterans' Voices) in 2013; YWCA Women on the Move award in 1987; and KOB-TV's "Pay It Forward" in January 2017.

Phyllis touched many people's lives with her sincere interest in hearing a person's story, her uncanny ability to know when someone needing checking on, and her deep love for family and friends.

We are grateful for the love and support that family and friends shared with Phyllis through the years, bringing her joy and sharing in her light.  In the past few months Phyllis's caregivers brought her comfort and friendship, and we wish to personally thank Patricia, Savannah, Charnalle, and Maria with Honor Technology, Inc.

Services will be held at FRENCH-University. Visitation is on Friday, September 23, 2022, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. and Funeral Services on Saturday, September 24, 2022 at 12:30 p.m. with reception following. Interment will be at Santa Fe National Cemetery at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, September 26, 2022.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Veterans' Voices (veteransvoices.org) or the Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary Unit 32 (checks can be written to:  DAVA Unit 32, 620 Tomasita St. NE, Albuquerque, NM  87123).