October 6, 1929 – August 1, 2025
Phyllis Vincent Eckfeldt passed away peacefully on August 1, 2025, at her son’s home on Maggie’s Way in Waterbury Center, Vermont. She was 95 years old.
Born in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, Phyllis was the daughter of Dorothy (Cass) Vincent and Alfred N. Vincent. She graduated from Fitchburg High School in 1947 and continued her education at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Fitchburg State University, earning both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree. She dedicated 30 years to teaching in Fitchburg, shaping the lives of countless students with her wisdom and care.
Family was the heart of Phyllis’s world. She raised three children – Betsy, Grant Jr., and Cynthia – and together they shared joyful times skiing, hiking, swimming, and spending summers at Naukeag Lake in Ashburnham, Massachusetts, and winters on the slopes of Stowe, Vermont. She adored her grandchildren, often whisking them away for adventures. Her wonderful hugs and beautiful laugh will be missed.
Phyllis lived a life rich with exploration and joy. With her brother Richard, she traveled the globe – from hiking in Scotland and skiing in Austria to camping in his Vanagon along the Baja Peninsula. She also skied in Europe and New England, canoed the Allagash, and journeyed to Alaska aboard “The Moose” with her daughter Cynthia and son-in-law Joel.
Fiercely independent and remarkably industrious, Phyllis built a beloved home on Walker’s Pond in Sedgwick, Maine, in 1980. It was her special place and she treasured her time there – picking blueberries on Caterpillar Hill, swimming at sunset, and tending to the land with tireless energy.
She was predeceased by her parents; her sister, Margaret Thompson (Wayne); brothers John and Richard (Audrey); and her daughters, Betsy (Norman) of Roxbury, Vermont, and Cynthia (Joel) of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Phyllis is survived by her devoted son, Grant, and his wife Mona of Waterbury Center, Vermont, who lovingly cared for her in her final years. She also leaves behind four grandchildren – Thomas Eckfeldt (Kimberly) of Salt Lake City, Utah; Megan Jones (Jeremy) of Ogden, Utah; Emily Van Mistri (Zubin) of Weybridge, Vermont; and Nathaniel Vandal (Lindsey) of Waitsfield, Vermont – as well as six great-grandchildren: Cyrus Van Mistri; Georgia, Willa, and Elsie Vandal; and Zoi and Ryder Eckfeldt.
A private family memorial service will be held at a later date.
