Phyllis Harriet Van Brug

Charlotte, North Carolina

July 03, 1928 - June 17, 2022

Phyllis Harriet (Reid) Van Brug, beloved Mom, Grandma and Gigi, passed away on June 17, 2022 at age 93 with her daughters at her bedside. If you'd have asked her though, she would have denied being "that old".

A child of the Depression, she told stories of that time - having to put oatmeal box cardboard into her worn shoes, frequently moving to less-expensive rentals, and dropping out of high school to help support the household. As a little girl, she loved mischievously climbing the icebox to eat the butter stored on top, wanted to twirl a baton and be a drum major like her big brother, and began a lifelong love of singing by winning a contest and performing on the radio.

Phyllis met the love of her life, William Van Brug, at church and they were married for 58 years until his death in 2012. She took on the typical homemaker role of the 50s and 60s, working nonstop to raise four daughters and care for her home and husband. She also found time to become an outstanding tennis player, sing for over forty years in fine groups like Oratorio Singers of Charlotte, and develop her amazing green thumb.

Bill and Phyllis lived in Grand Rapids (Michigan) and Charlotte for most of their married life but also spent time living big city life in Manhattan and bucolic farm life in the NC countryside. They took several trips to Europe once the kids were grown, and had many happy years of retirement together.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her husband, her siblings, and two sons-in-law, Bernhard Aarnink and Lance David. She is survived by her daughters Meribeth Aarnink, Cathy Martinez (Fernando), Jane David, and Sarah Dowless (Scott); grandchildren Juliana, Maria, William and Diana; and 4 great-grandchildren.

Sincere thanks from the family to the kind staff at Sunrise on Providence, who cared for Mom for over three years in the Memory Care area, and gratitude to Hospice of Charlotte for compassionate end of life care.

In lieu of flowers, gifts in memory of Phyllis can be made to support Alzheimer's and Dementia Research through  Alzheimer's Association at www.alz.org.

The Van Brug Family have entrusted arrangements to Cremation Society of Charlotte.

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