Phyllis Mae Bennett – Of Arlington. Phyllis passed away on May 25, 2026 at Melrose Wakefield Hospital. Born in Boston February 6, 1931, she was the daughter of the late Arthur Bennett and Geraldine (Martin) Bennett. Phyllis was predeceased by her beloved partner of many years, Helen Quick.
Loving aunt of Michele Bennett (Rose Hawkes), Philip Waithe, and Peter Waithe (Irandi), Phyllis is predeceased by her sisters Geraldine Waithe of Framingham, Francis Bennett of Boston, and Janice Wingfield of Newburyport, and her brothers Arthur S. Bennett of Dorchester, Leroy M. Bennett of Brooklyn, N.Y., Richard Bennett of CA, Gerard Bennett, and Robert Bennett of Marshfield, MA. She leaves a host of other relatives and many friends.
Phyllis was educated in the Boston school system. Upon graduation, she joined the Women’s Army Corp (WAC) and served for many years in both the Army WAC and National Guard. While in the Army, Phyllis attended San Franscisco State College for Photography and served as both a Telecommunication Specialist and Photographer. After discharge, Phyllis was very active as a veteran and volunteered at the VA Hospital in Bedford, MA. She also participated in the Honor Flight Mission, a program celebrating America’s veterans by inviting them to share in a day of honor at our nation’s memorials.
Phyllis loved photography both as a career and as a hobby. After being discharged from the Army, she worked for Polaroid Corporation as a Technical Specialist with both Edward Land and Ansel Adams, providing photographic support for many projects including: Building of the first 20x24 room size camera at Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Massachusetts; Vision Project - Children’s Hospital Experiments; Ansel Adams - The Portraits of the President and Vice President of the United States; and Operation Sail - 1980 20x24 project.
Phyllis touched many with her engaging smile and full of life personality. She loved to talk and spend time with her many friends and family. Phyllis was a dog lover and had many dogs, including her beloved Missy. She also enjoyed gardening and tending to the many azalea plants in her yard. While Phyllis may be gone in body, her feisty spirit will live in us forever.
Per Phyllis’s wishes, interment will be at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne. A Celebration of Life will be held in her honor at a future time. Donations in Phyllis’s memory may be made to the Edith Nourse Rogers Veterans Hospital Volunteer Service/Recreation Department at 200 Springs Road, Bedford, MA 01730-1114.