In loving remembrance of Sandy Phillips, our Mom, Sister, Gramma, Friend and Honorary Mom to many:

Groundhog Day, February 2, 1944.

Sandra (Sandy) Lee Bowker was a strawberry blonde baby girl born to Robert and Dorothy Bowker, in Weymouth, MA, younger sister to Paul E. Bowker (deceased) and Virginia Mullen (Ginny), older sister to Robert (Bob) Bowker and Nancy Bowker.

Early years were spent in Weymouth, then her family moved to Rockland, MA to a house that her father built. Sandy graduated from Rockland High School in 1961 and worked at First National Bank in Boston. Eventually Sandy got a job at Rockland Trust Company in Rockland, MA and she married Gene Phillips, making a home in Pembroke, MA. They had two children, Sharon (Phillips) Neri and James Phillips, and moved to Hanover, MA in 1972 where Sandy would call home for the remainder of her life. Staying busy raising a family, Sandy loved to cook, sew, and read, taking care of her cats and was a long-time Red Sox fan. She even began making homemade chocolates, eventually selling them during holiday seasons. When the kids were grown enough, Sandy began working at Crown Automotive in Pembroke part time. She worked her way from the warehouse ("counting ball bearings", as she called it), to the office as credit manager, then onto Sales, which was her occupation until retiring in 2011.

Her friends and family were her passion, for years she hosted Christmas Eve parties where anyone and everyone was welcome to stop in and say "hello". Sandy loved a party and loved to laugh, her smile was infectious! Her grandchildren, Sam and Grace, were born to Jim and his wife Nancy in 2001 and 2003, respectively and were the lights of her life. Birthdays and holidays with family were the happiest of times, often hosted at her house in Hanover where everyone felt at home. Sandy loved games and crossword puzzles and anything that made you think. As her children grew up there was always Boggle, or Monopoly, or Trivial Pursuit being played at any one moment, and for fun she would quiz them on state capitals!

She leaves behind a loving and heartbroken family, and so many friends who shared hugs and laughs along the way. She also leaves her beloved cats Brandy and Alexander. She would ask for smiles and celebration of her life, not tears, that was Sandy. The family invites you to visit, to share stories, to honor her with a farewell. Visiting hours will be held on Friday, September 9, 2016 from 5-8pm and a service will be held on Saturday morning, September 10, 2016 at 10am, both at Magoun Biggins Funeral Home on Union St. in Rockland, MA. All are invited to join us, following the service, at The Harmon Club on 168 Concord St. in Rockland, MA.

Donations may be made to The Standish Humane Society of Duxbury, MA.