Born: December 15, 1933 Brainerd, Minnesota
Died: April 21, 2017 Hughson, California
Phyllis is survived by her devoted husband, Joe Coenenberg (Anton J. Coenenberg), her two daughters; Ann Maddox and Mary Moore, her four grandchildren; Joseph and Alison Maddox, Dylan and Madison Moore as well as her brother Wayne Matta.
Phyllis was born to Wayne and Emma Matta in 1933 and lived in Brainerd, Minnesota until the age of 11. Brainerd had a large population of residents that were of Finnish decent. This included her family and they spoke Finnish in their home. She was the youngest of three children, having an older sister, Ruth and an older brother, Wayne. Ruth died suddenly of an infection at the age of 11 in 1939. Phyllis’ father traveled often for months at a time working on the construction of roads and bridges. In 1944 her mother decided to follow him with her two children to Renton, Washington. Once there, the family became involved in the Finnish community. They had a close relationship with the congregation at the Apostolic Lutheran Church. Her mother Emma worked on building airplanes at Boeing for the war effort as her father continued to work in construction. Phyllis graduated from Renton High School in 1951 and was voted prettiest and most ideal senior girl. After graduation she worked at the Washington State Employment Service and then was a United Airlines Stewardess for 4 1/2 years later transferring to the United Airlines Employment office. She met Joe Coenenberg, who was a Pilot for United Airlines and they married on September 10th, 1960. They lived in Belmont, California where they had their two daughters, Ann and Mary. In 1969 the family moved to Palo Alto and remained there for 40 years. In 2009, Joe and Phyllis moved to Hughson, California to be closer to their daughter Ann and family.
Phyllis had a deep and abiding faith and shared her love of God with others. She was an avid fisherman along side her husband Joe and she shared her passion for cooking and baking with her family. Phyllis truly had never met a stranger and earned the nickname “Papukaija” from her father which means parrot in Finnish. She joyfully touched many lives with her compassionate spirit and mischievous sense of humor. Her legacy of faith, thoughtfulness and generosity lives on in the hearts of those fortunate enough to have known and loved her. Phyllis will be missed forever but in the words of her favorite poem is safely home.
“I am home in heaven, dear ones;
Oh so happy and so bright.
There is perfect joy and beauty
In this everlasting light.”
Memorial Service to be held on May 8th at 11:30 am at Alta Mesa Memorial Park, 695 Arastradero Road, Palo Alto, CA 94306-3840
Memorial donations may be made to Apostolic Lutheran Church, c/o Carrie Kandoll, 18608 71st Ave W, Lynnwood, WA 98037.
