Mary Philomena “Phyl” Coburn, 93, formerly of Miami and Leesburg, FL, passed away Saturday, July 9, 2016 peacefully in her sleep. As she wished, there will be no service.
Phyl was born in Haulbowline, Cobh, Ireland on May 26, 1923 to Thomas Harris and Emily T. Denham Harris, emigrating to the USA as a child with family Michael and Helena Collins, where Phyl grew up in New York with her loving sister Mary Ellen “Maureen” Collins Ryan. She attended secretarial school, worked, married and became a mother. Later, in Florida, she enrolled in college, completing an A.A. degree and returned to work as a legal secretary with Mershon, Sawyer, Johnston, Dunwoody and Cole until she retired.
She is survived by Frederick Warren Coburn, her beloved husband of 70 years, Solon, IA, daughters Susan (Mordechai) Weinberg, Panama City, Panama; Laura Coburn, Miami, FL.; Janice (Scott) Moeller, Anamosa, IA; her grandchildren Sydney and Jacquelyn Weinberg, Michael L. (Charlene) Stoddard II; great grandson Dominik Gillis Stoddard MLS II, Shannon Stoddard, HM3, USN; her eldest sister Katherine Vivienne Harris Brooks, Sydney, Australia; niece Maureen Ryan Mimnaugh, Throggs Neck, NY and extended family.
Phyl was a devoted wife and mother, an active member of her community’s Social Club, an award-winning member of the Quilting Sisters Guild of Leesburg, FL, and Lake County Quilters Guild, a nature lover and lifetime member of the National Audubon Society. She enjoyed traveling and camping with Fred, visiting many national parks and taking mother/daughter trips to Europe.
In lieu of flowers, please share memories or tributes online here or cards to Coburn Family at P.O. Box 204, Anamosa, Iowa 52205.
The Coburn family wishes to express its deepest appreciation to the Solon Nursing Care Center in Iowa, Derek and Tami Sanders, and the James Howard family.