Obituary

Phyllis Pitt Riggs passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family, on June 29th, 2015, after a long illness. Phyllis was born in Orange, NJ on March 24th, 1923, to Ashley Thompson Pitt and Grace Adelaide Jeffers Pitt. She lived in Bloomfield, NJ, and graduated from Montclair State University. She taught chemistry and worked in a lab before marrying Wilfred Paul Riggs Jr. in 1946. As a young mother in Oradell, NJ and Garden City, NY, she involved herself in church and community activities, and was a Girl Scout leader for many years and enjoyed passing on her love of nature to the next generation. She sang in the church choir and around the house. Her devotion to family was total and she supported her children in every way possible. When asked what her biggest life accomplishment was, she replied, "My children."
Her hobbies included sewing, reading, gardening, swimming and bowling. She was brilliant at crossword puzzles and could have won at Jeopardy with consistency. Listening to classical music was always a joy for her, as were family gatherings. In Manchester, NH, she re-entered the workforce teaching sewing at the Girl’s Club, and serving as a teacher's aide at Webster and Jewett Street Schools through the Foster Grandparent program.
Phyllis is survived by her four children, Beth, (and Dave) of Tucson, AZ, Paul (and Sharon) of Hooksett, Vickie (and Jill) of Shelburne Falls, MA and Joy (and David) of Peterborough, NH, along with eight grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. She was predeceased by her parents, Grace Jeffers Pitt and Ashley Thompson Pitt, and her brother Charles Fremont Pitt.
A memorial service was held on Monday, July 6, 2015 at Lambert Funeral Home & Crematory, 1799 Elm St, Manchester, NH. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be sent to the Hillsborough County Nursing Home Activity Fund, 400 Mast Rd., Goffstown, NH 03045, or the Boys and Girls Club, 555 Union St, Manchester, NH 03104.

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