Loretta Phipps

It is with heavy hearts the Phipps family announces the passing of Loretta Phipps of Glen Spey on Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2018.
Wife, mother, grandmother, she is survived by her husband, CR; three sons and their wives: Michael and wife Nina, Larry and wife Rosie and Stephen and wife Georgeine; as well as seven grandchildren: Michael, Jillian, Stephen, Stephanie, Ryan, Thomas and Charlie.
Loretta grew up in Ridgewood, Queens, and was the only daughter of Margaret and Archibald Lent. She attended St. Matthias Elementary School and graduated from St. Agnes Academic High School in College Pont.
She continued her education and went on to receive her Baccalaureate Degree. Loretta graduated with honors from St. Mary’s School of Nursing and was class Valedictorian. She attended St. Thomas Aquinas in Sparkill, where she received her Bachelor of Science degree, with majors in Psychology and Education. She then went to Pace and Columbia University for graduate work.
Loretta was offered a position as third grade elementary school teacher at Sacred Heart School in Monroe, where she remained for 14 years, leaving to accept a position at Middletown Psychiatric Center.
As a member of this facility’s active Education and Training Department, Loretta taught an adult population. She developed orientation programs for newly hired RN’s, LPNs and Therapy Aides.
She left Middletown Psychiatric Center to accept a position as nurse administrator at Mid-Hudson Forensic Psychiatric Center where she remained until her retirement in 1999.
She was an R.N. for 52 years and a teacher for 35 years. When asked which profession she preferred, she would smile and answer, “Whatever I’m doing today.”
Loretta devoted many hours to projects and special programs for the American Heart Association, The American Red Cross and the Southeastern Conference of In-Service Educations. She was a trainer for Family Care Providers, Tuberculosis and HIV Counselor for N.Y.S. Department of Health as well as facility staff trainer for Brookdale.
Loretta’s pleasure was precious moments spent with her family and friends. She believed that family and friends were God’s angels who shared life’s joys and who were always there to help you get back on your feet when you faltered or fell.
For more than 50 years, she had the honor and privilege of calling her friend, Annette Petry “Angel.” Together they shared many of life’s laughter and, now and then, a few tears.
Loretta loved classical and semi-classical music and knew the words for most songs of the 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s. She enjoyed writing poetry, short stories, and loved a good joke.
Visitation was held Sept. 28 at Lazear-Smith & Vander Plaat Memorial Home in Warwick.
A Funeral Mass was held Sept. 29 at St. Stephen R.C. Church in Warwick.
Interment followed at St. Stephen Cemetery in Warwick.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Parkinson Disease Foundation - Columbia University, 710 West 168th Street, NY, NY 10032.
Arrangements were made by Lazear-Smith & Vander Plaat Memorial Home. To send an online condolence, visit www.lsvpmemorialhome.com.