Phyllis Hochfeld

Phyllis Hochfeld

March 8, 1922 – March 9, 2017

After a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease, Phyllis Hochfeld passed away quietly March 9, 2017, just one day after her 95th birthday. Phyllis is survived by her three children Fran Zarubick (Pittsfield, MA), Ken Hochfeld and daughter- in-law Carol Bertolucci (Portland, OR) , Sherri Edwards and son- in-law Kent Edwards (Seattle, WA), and two grandchildren Tracey Zarubick and Jason Hochfeld.

Phyllis was born in New York but moved to southern California where she spent the majority of her adult years. Details of her childhood remain vague. After a brief courtship, she married Robert Hochfeld in 1942 and remained with him until his death in 1999. Together they ran a shoe store in Glendora, California for more than 20 years. When the business was sold, Phyllis became a bookkeeper for the Claremont School District, and after officially retiring from the school district, she and Bob moved to Hemet, California. Phyllis loved traveling and exploring different cultures, playing bridge, listening to opera and classical music and dancing. She and Bob were square dancers and after many years of resistance, Phyllis finally joined Bob in his love for bowling.

Phyllis was actively involved in the Hemet community. She volunteered as a docent for the Metropolitan Water District and tutored seniors through the local library. She also prepared taxes for retired seniors as a volunteer for the Homeowner and Renter Assistance Program for many years. Phyllis loved writing and contributed articles about community members’ lives and current events to the Hemet News and the News Express. She was also an active participant in the Saddleback Community Homeowners Association, where she lived until 2005 when she moved to Washington to be closer to her family. She spent the last five years of her life at the Caroline Kline Galland nursing home in Seattle.

Friends and loved ones will remember Phyllis for her wit, strength, resolve, directness and her tenacity in clinging to life as long as she did.

Please share memories of Phyllis and condolences for her family on our online guestbook page.

Arrangements entrusted to Emmick Family Funeral & Cremation Services ~ West Seattle