Family and friends shared an emotional 100th birthday party with Phyllis Farrow June 14 at St. Mark’s Church.

“It meant a great deal to have the party there,” Phyllis’ daughter, Paula McDonald, said. “She was a founding member of the church and though she wasn’t overly religious, her beliefs meant a great deal to her. She really rallied for the party.”

Phyllis’ parents moved to this country from England and she grew up learning to love reading, singing and outdoors activities. As her eyesight began to deteriorate, Phyllis continued to pursue literature by listening to audio books. She shared her love of music by teaching her three daughters June, Paula and Alayne favorite songs, playing them on the piano during their childhood. She also sang in the St. Mark’s Choir.

“My mother was never an artsy crafty person,” she said. “She loved to go hiking, kayaking and fishing at the house her husband, Edwin Farrow, built in Cherry Valley. And oh my god did my mother like to walk.”

Phyllis walked almost every day through her neighborhood in Governor Francis, even to the day she moved to an assisted living facility. Phyllis even continued walking at the assisted living home sneaking off to walk up and down stairs for extra exercise.

“She always tried to stay as physically and mentally fit for as long as she could, doing yoga and mind puzzles” Paula said with a tender laugh.

At the birthday party, Phyllis’ family, some of who traveled from all over the country, Virginia Beach and Arizona, shared loving memories and stories of their relationships over the years.

On Paula and her husband, Rod McDonalds’, first date Phyllis asked, “Are your intentions honorable?” before any sort of hello.

At the birthday party Rod said, “After over 45 years together, I can promise you the answer was and is yes.”

The grandchildren – she has four and two step-grandchildren – remembered that on all of their 16th birthday parties Phyllis wrote them a personal letter. In the letter Phyllis shared stories of her own experiences at 16. She expressed how important each one of them was to her and praised them for all their good qualities while encouraging them for the future. All the grandchildren still have their letters.

In any card, whether birthday, anniversary or get well, Phyllis always wrote a personal note inside for everyone, it was never a simple “happy birthday.”

Phyllis and her sister lived on the same street for 60 years of their lives and after Phyllis became a widower, she and her sister would eat dinner together every other night.

“They would switch houses,” Paula explained, “Right at 5 o’clock, ding, you would hear the doorbell for dinner.”

Phyllis’ caring nature transcended beyond just her family. In 1936 she graduated from Rhode Island Hospital School for Nursing. She is the oldest living graduate from the school. Other than some time off to raise her children, Phyllis worked as a nurse until she was 72.

She was always interested in graphology, the study of handwriting and the clues it gives into one’s personality. She would always tell people the good things she could see in their handwriting.

Paula said, “When she was in the home she would get up every morning for her walk and say hello to everyone. There was another resident who had had a stroke and had difficulty moving and, even though my mother was having her own difficulties at the time, almost every morning she would walk down to the cafeteria and help the woman make a bowl of cereal. There wasn’t anybody who didn’t know her. She introduced herself to every new resident.”

She was important to and cared for so many people; there were four names on her birthday cake. Phyllis, Mom, Nana, and GG for her 11 great-grandchildren.