Jerris Phillips

Cherished husband, father (Babas), grandfather (Papou), and brother, Jerris "Filippa" Phillips passed away on April 28, 2023.

Jerris was born on August 16, 1937, in Agonas, Cephalonia, Greece to Othon and Diamantina Filippatos.  He was the second of seven children.  While there were many hardships growing up on a small island with many siblings, he frequently spoke of the home they built with great pride.  When he was old enough, he struck out on his own and joined the Greek Merchant Marines. He was the youngest engineer on the ship to be entrusted with ensuring that the ship's engines ran smoothly.  Traveling the world at such a young age was an incredible experience and he shared many of his exploits with his family and friends.  He still had the camera he bought in Japan.  The pull from his friends now living in the United States was strong, so he finally decided it was time to see what America had to offer.  

Jerris wound up finding a job in Glendale, CA at a Ralphs supermarket.  There he met his future wife, Sally Schoenenberger.  It was a brief courtship and they were soon married and settled in Glendale.  After a couple of years they had a daughter, Tina.  A brief 11 months and 1 week later, they had their second daughter, Rita.  Jerris eventually found work doing building maintenance and bought a house very close to where their first apartment had been.  Jerris loved to grow fruits and vegetables and his Mediterranean heritage showed in the kinds of fruits and vegetables he grew: figs, grapes, peaches, lemons, oranges, zucchini (so much zucchini), tomatoes (again, so many tomatoes), onions, garlic, green beans, cucumbers and sometimes a watermelon.  The family (and friends of the family) feasted on the bounty he was able to grow.

Jerris continued to travel back to Greece regularly to visit family and friends and the home he loved so dearly in Agonas.  Once he retired, he travelled to Greece quite often to visit his ailing mother.  He continuously talked about his "Greek Villa" as he was so proud of the house where he grew up.

He is preceded in death by his parents, 3 brothers, and his wife who passed away in 2020 just short of their 51st wedding anniversary.  He is survived by his children, Tina (husband, Craig) and Rita (husband, Douglas), and his grandson, Ian (his pride and joy).