Obituary: Maureen Ellen Phillips (nee Donahue)

Obituary was published and funeral arrangements were entrusted to the care and direction of the Fred C. Dames Funeral Home and Crematory.

Maureen Ellen Phillips

(nee Donahue)

Maureen Ellen Phillips, age 89, of Plainfield, passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 12, 2026, at Hillside Nursing Home in Yorkville. She had been a lifelong resident of the Joliet/Plainfield area. Maureen was born in Joliet, IL, on September 19, 1936, the daughter of the late James A. and Marie A. (nee Novak) Donahue.

Maureen retired in 2001, after 41 years as a registered nurse at St. Joseph Medical Center in Joliet. While in nursing school, her senior class advisor insisted that Maureen was known by the “strength of her gentleness and the gentleness of her strength.”

Her love for life included her family and caring for others. Maureen was a devout catholic at the Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus in Joliet. She loved playing the piano and dancing the Fox trot with her “AL” and enjoyed traveling. She spent 36 years as an active dance mom at Shirley’s Dance Studio. Being a mother and grandmother were one of her greatest achievements.

Maureen is survived by her beloved children, Susan (John) Cotellesse, Mark (Darcy) Phillips, LeAnn Erhart, David (Andrea) Phillips, and Kara Phillips; grandchildren, Sharena (Neil) Cotellesse Payne, James (Hiromi) Cotellesse, JD Barto, Tyler Erhart, Elise Erhart, Alex Phillips, Donovan Phillips; and great-grandchildren, Delilah Payne, Edison Payne, Luna Jeanne Cotellesse, Isla Maureen Cotellesse. Maureen is also survived by her sister, Virginia Adamsick; brother, James W. (Mary Lou) Donahue; sister-in-law, Mary Ann Donahue; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles A. Phillips, Jr. (2004); son, Charles A. Phillips, III (2013); sister, Idann Kinsella; brother, John “Jack” Donahue; brother in-law, Larry Adamsick; and nephew, Larry Kinsella.

Funeral Services for Maureen Ellen Phillips will be held at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, February 23, 2026, from the Fred C. Dames Funeral Home, 3200 Black Rd. Joliet, IL, to The Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus, 604 N. Raynor Ave., Joliet, IL, where a mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Woodlawn Memorial Park. Visitation will be held on Sunday, February 22, 2026, at the funeral home chapel from 1:00 to 7:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Maureen’s name can be made to a charity of your choice.

For more information, please call 815-741-5500 or visit her Memorial Tribute page at www.fredcdames.com, where those wishing to honor Maureen are encouraged to share a favorite memory or leave an online condolence.

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