Phyllis (Sister) Eileen Nickerson Hughes
September 3, 1929 – December 17, 2025
Phyllis was born and raised on Cape Sable Island, a small island in the most southern part of Nova Scotia. Her father, Abner Nickerson, was a proud and successful fishing captain, who served in WWI with the Canadian Army. Her mother, Ada (Newell) Nickerson was a hard-working mother who raised Phyllis’ brothers Orville and Malcolm Nickerson and her sisters Winifred (Nickerson) Nickerson and Mildred (Nickerson) Penney.
Wherever she lived Phyllis made lifelong friends and they remained in her heart forever. She was a light of love, laughter and kindness to all who knew her. She loved to play Bridge and Cribbage and was an avid golfer winning trophies over the years with her friends at the Pinebrook Ironwood Ladies Golf Association in Bradenton Florida. She took advantage of all life had to offer, trusting God, and made her own adventures along the way.
She moved her family to Glastonbury CT in 1961, where they were active members of the South Congregational Church. She skied throughout New England and even in Switzerland and Germany. For many years they sailed their boat “The Sphinx” from the British Virgin Islands through the Antilles and back. During their travels they visited every state and at least 33 countries around the world and enjoyed Sri Lanka, China, and Europe the most.
Before Phyllis left her room to finish her laundry on the day of her passing, she phoned her daughter Karen to say that Christmas excited her and that she believed in angels. Prior to her clothes being folded the angels gently took her to join Jesus, family and friends, and her husband Gerald Hughes of 68 years.
She was the best mother and friend to her four children Karen & Richard O’Reilly, Alan & Ann (Wassell), Terry and George Gillette, and Edwin.
Besides her loving children she leaves behind her four grandchildren: Amy (Hughes) & Noah Creaven, Merissa Gillette, Chase Hughes, Julie (Hughes) & George Sparrow, and eight great-grandchildren: Trenton & Dylan Gauthier, Camryn Gillette, Peyton Melvin, Amelia & Kieran Creaven, and Grace & Ben Sparrow, and one great-great-granddaughter Brianna Gillette.
Her family will be forever grateful for the care and friendship she received at The Village at Waterman Lake that kept her smiling and laughing.
Calling hours will be held in the Anderson Winfield Funeral Home, Route 44 at Greenville Common, Greenville Rhode Island, Friday, January 2nd, 2026, 2 – 4 pm, and a celebration of her life will be held at the Elks Lodge, #2202, 98 Woodland Street, Glastonbury CT on January 4, 2026, from 1 – 4 pm.