In Memory of

Phyllis

Marion

Burt

(Tuck)

Obituary for Phyllis Marion Burt (Tuck)

Phyllis Marion Burt (nee Tuck) passed away March 27 at the age of 94 at Vancouver General Hospital after a (thankfully) brief illness. She was born on July 6, 1923 in Vernon. Raised in Vancouver, she was the middle child of five (Douglas, Donald, Avora & Dickie). As a young woman, she loved to play the piano, sketch, dabble in potting and volunteer with the Junior League. Phyllis was also known for her sense of style, sewing skills and great humour. During WWII, she worked for the Canadian government in Washington D.C. then returned home to marry Roy Hemphill and raise her family (Ken, Marianne [Cam], Ron and Shane). They lived in Montreal, Victoria and Kamloops, but eventually returned to roost in her favourite city, Vancouver. When she became a single parent at 40, she launched her real estate career, which lasted another 40 years. She loved her family, friends, faith, finding the right house for the right person and taking on new challenges - like learning to play the organ, at 50, with foot pedals! She married Jack Burt and embraced his three grown daughters (Gayle, Toni & Terri) and their progeny with her usual open, generous heart. Phyllis’ family and grandchildren (Tim, Becca, Hannah, Justine, Kalyani, Jessie, Liam, Aretha, Heidi, Garth, John, Marnie, Kelly, Steven, Jim & Shaun) knew her as “Foofie”. The great grandchildren (Jack, Charlie, Sophia, Sawyer, Chloë, Brynna, Jolie, Liam, Alethia, Ronan, Mercedes & Portia) refer to her as “The Mighty Foof”. Predeceased by her four siblings and two sons (Ron & Ken), she is now the stuff of legends---indomitable, courageous, informed and fun, believing in each of us more than we believed in ourselves. We mourn our loss but celebrate her gain---heaven is her new home.