Phyllis Bernstein

Phyllis Bernstein, 88, passed away on July 16, 2025, in Toledo, Ohio. Phyllis was born on January 17, 1937, in Cincinnati, Ohio to Sarah and Clem Anchel.  She graduated from Hughes High School and then attended the Ohio State University, the Art Academy of Cincinnati, and the University of Cincinnati. 
In July 1956, she was selected from hundreds of girls in Cincinnati, as the winner of a contest (sponsored by the Cincinnati Post and the RKO Albee theatre) for the Italian hairstyle closest to that of Gina Lollabrigida- from the movie Trapeze. 
On June 9, 1957, she married her college sweetheart, Richard Bernstein of Charlotte, N.C. In 1961, they relocated from Cincinnati to Toledo, Ohio where in 1965 their daughter, Shari Caryn, was born. 
Phyllis settled in as a homemaker and mother, pursuing her love of art by attending various art courses at the Toledo Museum of Art. She completed paintings at home, some of which were donated to charity auctions. She also created wearable art on clothing and was represented in two commercial galleries in the Toledo area. Birthday parties, holidays, and celebrations were also part of her imaginative and creative repertoire- hand sewing costumes, decorating, cooking, and planning, with no detail lost.
She and her husband very much enjoyed domestic and foreign travel, visiting many of the Caribbean Islands, England, Spain, the Netherlands, and France. They also embarked on numerous driving expeditions throughout nine of the ten Canadian provinces and most of the American states. 
Of special and indelible memory were trips visiting much of the wine country in France (Burgundy, Bordeau, and Rhone Valley), California (Napa, Sonoma, and Russian River Valley), Washington, and Oregon. They enjoyed numerous wine tastings, whale watching in Canada, extensively driving through Alaska -gravel roads and all, and very often getting lost together while driving throughout France.
Phyllis completely designed the outside and inside of her French style Wildwood home based on the French architecture that she observed throughout her travels in France. On the back of an envelope, she sketched the outside design of the home that she wanted to build and then took it to an architect. Viewing the home today it looks exactly like that sketch. She continued the French theme on the interior of the home, daily oversaw its construction while meticulously paying attention to every detail, which became a nightmare for the builder. Building and designing her home was one of the most rewarding years of her life, having accomplished with great pride, her lifetime dream. 
As a young woman, Phyllis, like so many other people, was a highly addicted cigarette smoker. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the nation came to recognize and accept the adverse issues that came with cigarette smoking. She signed onto and successfully completed a smoking cessation program sponsored by “Smoke Enders”. She was so impressed with the program that she became an instructor, finding that helping other people to “kick the habit” a most rewarding endeavor. 
Phyllis was a highly competitive tennis player for over 30 years, playing at least three times weekly. She was President of the Westchester Woods Homeowners’ Association, a Trustee of the Wildwood Homeowners’ Association and Chairman of its Architectural Committee. She was a member of Temple Shomer Emunim and Congregation Bnai Israel. She also was a life member of Hadassah and a member of ORT. 
Phyllis was preceded in death by her canine child and best friend Piper who very much understood her and was always by her side. Phyllis loved all animals, especially the many deer roaming throughout her neighborhood and yard, even though they would always eat her newly planted flowers and foliage. 
Phyllis is survived by her husband Richard, daughter Shari Caryn Bernstein, granddaughter Lindsey Hensley (Aaron), grandson Samuel Sundermeyer, and great grandson, Rowan Hensley. 
Funeral services will be held at Temple Shomer Emunim on Friday July 18, 2025 at 11:30am with Rabbi Delson officiating. Burial will occur at Woodlawn Cemetery with a lunch provided at the Temple following the graveside service.
In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to Temple Shomer Emunim, Congregation Bnai Israel, or Jewish Federation of Greater Toledo.  
The family wishes to extend their gratitude to Ohioans Home Health and Hospice. 
 

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