Phyllis Mary (Barth) Packer

Phyllis Mary (Barth) Packer passed away unexpectedly January 21, 2019 at Portsmouth Regional Hospital, a few months shy of her 90th birthday.  Born to the late Donald and Florence (Crowley) Barth, Phyllis was a lifelong resident of Newburyport and was a long-time communicant of the Immaculate Conception Church.  She met her late husband James Packer, also a Newburyport High School graduate, while working at Towle Silversmiths.  They spent many years as part of the community on Eagle Street.  She worked for Dr. Dervan on High Street for a number of years and retired from her long time job at Chase and Lunt Insurance on State Street - still a spring chicken at the age of 76.

Phyllis loved to have fun and stay busy.  She practiced tap, jazz, and ballroom dance at Joyce Dance Studios in Amesbury and the Newburyport Senior Center.  She loved live music and traveling the world, visiting Austria, Russia, Germany, Ireland, Canada, and New Orleans.  She also enjoyed watching the latest movies at the Screening Room.  When at home in Newburyport, Phyllis walked everywhere and knew everyone.  She ate lunch at Angie's nearly every day and followed her favorite Celtics and NHS sports teams in the paper.

She is predeceased by brothers Donald Jr. and Paul Barth, and sisters Janet Haley and Kathleen Sheehan.

She is survived by her son James and wife Holly (Bennett) Packer, of Stratham, NH; by granddaughter Madison Packer and fiancé Joshua Fitch, of Somerville; by grandson Michael Packer, also of Stratham; and by many beloved nieces, nephews, and the friends she made wherever she went.  Phyllis will be greatly missed.

Family and friends may call from 3:00 to 6:00 PM on Friday January 25, 2019 at the Twomey, LeBlanc, & Conte Funeral Home 193 High St. Newburyport, MA 01950. Parking available behind the Funeral Home. Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 AM on Saturday January 26, 2019 at Immaculate Conception Church, followed by burial at St. Mary Cemetery both in Newburyport.

Donations in Phyllis’ memory may be mailed to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital 501 St Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105 Source Code: IIQ181010008.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Phyllis Mary (Barth) Packer, please visit our floral store.