Phyllis Deal, of Hightstown, NJ, passed away Saturday, November 7, 2020 at the age of 83.
Born in Brooklyn, NY, she was a longtime resident of Hightstown, NJ. Phyllis was a Contract Administrator with the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ), now the Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, before retiring.
She was a longtime congregant of Beth El Synagogue of East Windsor, NJ.
Phyllis was a world traveler, living all over the world including Japan, and Germany, and was proud of her command of the languages of the places she visited. She was a deeply spiritual person, and strove continually to improve her conscious contact with a G-D of her understanding. Phyllis had a rich and, oftentimes, ribald sense of humor, loved a good “zinger” and a deep belly laugh. Phyllis was deeply committed to helping animals, and owned dozens upon dozens of rescue dogs and cats, as well as a whole mixed menagerie over the years. Her passion for helping was not limited to animals, but extended to political causes, and she donated regularly to numerous charities, and organizations. Phyllis was a powerful and dynamic woman, an organizer, a community activist, and, to all who knew her, a force of nature. To her family and friends, the world will be less vibrant for her having left it.
Daughter of the late David and Rose Steinberg, she is survived by a daughter, Bari (Karl) Fauss, and a son, Elliot Deal.
Private funeral services and burial were at Beth David Cemetery in Elmont, NY. Memorial contributions may be made to APAW (Animal Placement Agency of the Windsors) www.apawpets.org/ or The Ironwood Pig Sanctuary www.ironwoodpigs.org/
Wishing the family strength and peace during this difficult time.
She will be in my heart and memories forever.
I feel so blessed to have had Phyllis in my life for so many years. Beneath her tough exterior she had a wise and very deeply spiritual soul, which gave her the strength to carry on.
And carry on she did: I’ ll always remember the rides in her car when I was at a very low point in my life. Phyllis turned my frustration, exhaustion, confusion, and depression into belly laughs and streams of tears rolling down my face because of her sense of humor.
Phyllis taught me how to tap into my Source as I continue to grow through all of life’s challenges. She taught me the wisdom: “If you don’t learn the lesson from the experience, you’re bound to re-experience the lesson.” And for that, I am eternally grateful.
My sincere condolences to the family of Phyllis Deal. I know her from when I was working at the Hightstown Memorial branch of the Mercer County Library. She always seemed like a lively, interesting woman. I admired her help with animals.
For her son Elliot, I have a scrapbook and have the flier you did “Launch into 1982”. It was so good of you to volunteer your time to do that for the library!
Sandra Johnson
Phyllis will be missed. As a member of the EASEL Animal Rescue League, I picked up donations from Phyllis for many years. She was a wonderful, warm, engaging, energetic person with a zest for life. We often took the opportunity to catch up and talk. Phyllis was a great source of advice and had an infectious sense of humor. She was also a tremendous animal lover and always wanted to know what was going on at our rescue. Condolences to the family for your loss.