Bessie "Bess" Phelan, 92, wife of the late Richard M. Phelan, crossed the threshold into eternal life early Saturday morning, October 4, 2014.
Most recently, Bess was a resident of the Sunrise Senior Living Community in the Gardner Park section of Peabody. Born and raised in Peabody, she was the daughter of the late Emmanuel and Sophia (Despinis) Assiminas, and a graduate of Peabody High School, she relocated to Salem at the time of her marriage to her husband Richard.
Prior to her marriage she was employed with Sylvania both in Salem and Danvers. From then on, for most of the next 64 years she nobly carried out the role of homemaker.
She was a person who enjoyed reading, and who found satisfaction in both the quieter time that her home might avail and in the social interaction that relatives and friends and acquaintances occasioned. Both Bess and her husband were good stewards of the financial well-being that their Lord and their circumstances had made possible. Neither Bess nor her husband ever owned an automobile.
Bess was totally devoted to her role as a wife and as the mother of her four children.
She is survived by her four children, Michael R. Phelan of Salem, Peter J. Phelan and his companion Laurie of Albuquerque, NM, Anne Elizabeth Preble and her husband George of West Newbury, Paul M. Phelan and his companion Jan of Albuquerque, NM as well as a granddaughter Kate Phelan of Scottsdale, AZ. She is also survived by a sister, Elaine Assiminas of Salem, nieces Sophia Grevelis of Peabody, Joyce Kokinos of Colorado Springs, CO, and nephews George March of Salem, Michael March of Essex, and Manuel Assiminas of Navarre, FL. She was predeceased by a sister, Calliope Kokoreas and three brothers, George and Peter Assiminas and Charles March.
The Phelan family is grateful for the caring staff at Sunrise Senior Living and to the caregivers at All Care Hospice who engaged with Bess in recent weeks.
Visiting hours for Mrs. Phelan will be held from the Murphy Funeral Home, 85 Federal St., (corner of North St.) Salem on Saturday, October 11 from 10:00 to 11:00 A.M. to be followed by Funeral Services at Saint Vasilios Church, 5 Paleologos Street, Peabody, MA at 11:30 A.M. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Interment will be in Greenlawn Cemetery, Salem. In Bess's memory a gift to Saint Basil Academy, 79 St. Basil Rd., Garrison, NY would be welcomed. Kyrie Eleison! Christe Eleison! For on line guest book or additional information please call 978 744 0497 or visit www.MurphyFuneralHome.com.