Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home

Phyllis Elizabeth Osier Brewer, formerly of Rockland, passed away in Clearwater, FL on April 4, 2015 at the age of 98. Prior to moving to Florida a year ago, she called Rockland, ME her home for over 75 years.
Phyllis is survived by sons Arnold Brewer (Carol) of Tarpon Springs, FL, Robert Brewer (Marie) of Naples, FL and Portland, ME, daughter Ruth Brewer Hussey of State College, PA and Naples, FL; brother Newton James Osier (Diane) of Needham, MA; seven grandchildren including Jennifer Hussey Paulosky (David) of Havertown, PA, Sherri Brewer Kneeland (John) of Salem, NH, Andrea Hussey Hageman ) (John) of Alexandria, VA, Christopher Brewer (Debbie) of Portland, ME, Scott Brewer (Staci) of Sugar Hill, GA, Kevin Hussey of Charlotte, NC, Suzanne Brewer (Don) of Portland, ME; twelve great-grandchildren, Andrea, Zachary, Sammy, Kayla, Erica, Nicolas, Madison, Abigail, Ryan, Kate, Alex and Andrew; nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband Robert George Brewer; two sisters Madelyn Lehman and Helen Simmons and brother Granville "Spike" Osier.
Phyllis was born September 1, 1916 to the late Granville and Ruth Maloney Osier. She grew up in Cushing and Damariscotta, ME and attended Lincoln Academy. At the young age of 16 her mother died and she became the caregiver for her four younger siblings, the youngest was two years old. In her early 20s, she moved to Rockland where she met her future husband "Bob". They were married in 1940.
Phyllis and Bob enjoyed ballroom dancing and were winners of many dance contests. They also played golf together and she carried that skill into later years on miniature golf courses. There she triumphed over younger competitors to win many championships in her 80s.
Her hobbies were knitting and crocheting and she enjoyed making sweaters, mittens, hats, Afghans and Barbie clothes for her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Phyllis liked to travel and was always ready to go especially to visit her children wherever they were. She loved to play games and was still playing Bingo, Rummikub and Skip-Bo into the last month of her life. Having a lobster roll by the ocean followed by an ice cream at Dorman's was a favorite occasion of hers.
Over the years she worked in many local businesses including; Paramount Restaurant, Carroll Cut Rate, Goodnow's Pharmacy, Senter Crane's and Achorn's Fabrics. As an entrepreneur, she owned and operated a textile and yarn shop. Her last employment was as a telephone operator for New England Telephone Company. Phyllis was active in the Rockland Lodge of Elks Emblem Club and served a term as president. She was also a member of the Eastern Star and volunteered for many organizations over the years. She was a long-term member of the Methodist Church and attended the Thomaston Baptist Church in her later years.
Her greatest joy was raising her children. Phyllis was there to support them in all their activities. Her children remember her cheering at many of the basketball games, attending drum and bugle Corps competitions, helping with Girl Scouts, driving cheerleaders to away games and just being a part of whatever they were involved in. She impressed upon them the value of hard work, doing your best in whatever you try and the importance of education. When her seven grandchildren were born and came home from the hospital, she was quick to be there to lend a helping hand.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm, Sunday, May 17th, at the Burpee, Carpenter and Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland. The Reverend Wayne Sawyer will officiate. A time of visitation will be held from 12:30 pm to the beginning of the service. Interment will follow at the Achorn Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Meals-on-Wheels, C/O Methodist Conference Home, 46 Summer St., Rockland, ME 04841. To share a memory or condolence with Phyllis’s family, please visit her Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com.

Affiliations