Phyllis (Peterson) Kendall Fries

Phyllis (Peterson) Kendall Fries, age 90, passed peacefully on Sept. 11, 2022, at the Carlyle Place in Bedford, New Hampshire.She was born in Woburn, Massachusetts, on Jan. 21 1932, daughter of John Olaf Harold and Ada Peterson. She grew up and raised her family in Burlington, Massachusetts, and Milford, New Hampshire. In later years, she lived in New Jersey, Bedford, Antrim, New Hampshire, and Bradenton, Florida.

Phyllis was an amazing homemaker who loved to cook and bake. Her parties and family celebrations were the glue that kept family and friends together. She was an expert seamstress and made most of her children’s clothes in childhood. She was known for her style, earrings and dressed up for any and all occasions. Phyllis volunteered for her church and community, 4-H, Boy Scouts and voting polls. She taught fitness and yoga throughout her life and enjoyed swimming, walking and golf at every opportunity. Always having a love of card playing and games, she became a Master Bridge player and instructor. She loved to visit casinos and scratch tickets were her delight. A lifelong lover of travel and cruising, there were not many places she hadn’t visited in this world. She loved birds and kept a birdhouse and feeder wherever she lived, and kept a big supply of chewy bones for every dog that passed her way. She was an avid reader and jigsaw puzzler and kept her witty, bright intelligence all her life.

Phyllis was full of love, gratitude and kindness. Her family was her top priority, and she did everything she could to support and nurture through multiple generations. She touched all who knew her and celebrated each and every relationship she forged through life. She was so happy to spend the last years of her life being cared for by the staff at the Carlyle Place Assisted Living in Bedford. She loved the activities and dining room, and it was hard to reach her by phone as she was always off playing cards, bingo, doing crafts, trivia and chatting with residents.

Phyllis is survived by her brother, Richard Peterson of Lynnfield, Massachusetts; daughters, Kathy Blake of New Hampshire and Bradenton, Florida, Jennifer Cooper and husband Craig of Cape Elizabeth Maine; and son, John Scott Kendall and wife Diane of Antrim. Grandchildren Suzanne Blake Gerety and husband Ed Gerety; Kendall, Alana and Bianca Cooper; Emma, Hattie & Wylie Kendall; great-grandchildren, Ryan & Shannon Gerety and many nieces, nephews and extended family. She was predeceased by husbands, John Scott Kendall, John Fries of New Jersey; brothers, John O.H. Peterson, Robert Peterson; and sister, Marjorie Graham.

A celebration of life will be on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, at 1 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 73 Main St., Antrim. All friends and family are welcome to attend. Reception to follow at The Kendall Farm, 48 Elm Avenue, Antrim NH 03440. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Humane Society of Hillsborough County, NH.

Arrangements are in the care of the Smith & Heald Funeral Home, 63 Elm St., Milford, NH 03055.

To share a memory or offer a condolence, please visit www.smith-heald.com for more information.