Leona “Phyllis” Chadwick Schneider, 94, of Florida passed away peacefully June 9 at home with her family by her side. Phyllis was born in Wellesley Hills, Mass. in 1921 and graduated from Hanover High School.
Phyllis enjoyed all kinds of music but loved singing in church choirs and was a member of Sweet Adelines for a number of years.
As a young mother, she also taught tap dancing, ballroom dancing and ballet to children in Bristol. While living in Maine, Phyllis directed musical cabaret style shows, the proceeds of which helped to build a much-needed gymnasium.
Once she retired from Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, she and her husband Jim moved to Florida where she continued her love of music and dance. In her late eighties, she won many awards as a ballroom dancer for the Arthur Murray Dance Studio in St. Augustine. She also had many friends as a member of a Red Hatters Club.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Leon P. and Edna B. Munro; husband and father of her five children, James C. Chadwick; daughter, Cynthia J. Anfinson; and her second husband, Nicholas R. Schneider.
Phyllis is survived by her children, Carla Chadwick of Jacksonville, Fla., Martha Vance and husband Jay of South Portland, Lawrence Chadwick, and Paul Chadwick and wife Kristen of York Beach; grandchildren, William Anfinson, R. Paul Anfinson, Chad Anfinson, John Mihay, Jr., James Mihay, Jennifer Mihay, Michael Vance, Daniel Vance, Lauren Sawyer, Meghan Potts, Jasen Morin, Camden Chadwick, Abigail Blake, and Jake Strow; and many nieces and nephews.
A funeral Mass will be held at 5:30 p.m., Tues., June 16 at Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, 8523 Normandy Blvd. Jacksonville, Fl. 32221. Following the Mass, a celebration of Phyllis’ life will be held at a place to be announced at the service.
The family will be having a graveside interment at 10:30 a.m., Sat., Aug. 8 at the Chamberlain Cemetery in Round Pond. A gathering will be held following at the New Harbor Methodist Church.
If friends desire, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.