Obituary
Nancy Koslen Phillips, 94, formerly of State College PA
passed away on October 8, 2024, under hospice care. She died at peace knowing
she lived and died on her own terms and was loved by her family and many dear
friends. She was predeceased by her husband Gerald “Jerry” Phillips, father Isadore
Koslen, mother Rose (Kreiger) Koslen, step-mother Esther (Post) Koslen and
sister May Warner. Nancy’s mother died when Nancy was a teenager, and Isadore
later married Esther. Isadore and Esther’s experiences as immigrants to this
country surviving Russian Pogroms and Nazi Germany helped shape Nancy’s life as
a passionate progressive and non-apologetic liberal.
In 1949, Nancy married Jerry, and they had four children,
Dean (Mary Kohart), Judith (Tony Stemberger), Ellen (Arthur Maguire), and
Abigail (Andrew Karp). Nancy was teased that she nurtured a fifth child, her
husband Jerry. Fortunately, her sharp intellect was an even match for Jerry, a Distinguished
Professor of Communication Studies at Pennsylvania State University. While Jerry
mentored over 100 graduate students and authored many books, Nancy created a
welcoming place at their Pugh Street home for family, friends, and his students,
making sure that they and various strays always had a place at the table on
holidays and whenever they needed a meal or a touch of home.
After Jerry’s death in 1995, Nancy blossomed as a strong independent
woman fostering human and civil rights causes. She never stopped her life-long quest
to learn through dialog, books and online courses. Through Facebook, she
maintained family relationships and decades-long friendships. In recent years
she enjoyed living with her sister Carole Silver in Ohio. She spent her final
year living at The Oaks at Pleasant Gap earning love and respect from the caring
staff. Nancy is survived by four children, seven grandchildren, five great
grandchildren, three sisters and many caring nieces, nephews and cousins.
Arrangements are being made at Haky/Georgiana Centre County Funeral
Home, and Nancy’s ashes will be interred with Jerry’s at Centre County Memorial
Park. A celebration of life will be announced at a later date. In lieu of
flowers, donations can be made to The Centre Volunteers in Medicine, the
Snetsinger Butterfly Garden or any progressive, liberal charity of your choice.