AVONDALE - M. Phyllis Anderson, 83, Avondale, passed away Sunday, February 7, 2016 in St. Martha’s Regional Hospital, Antigonish, after a lengthy illness. Born October 14, 1932 in Avondale, she was a daughter of the late James R. and Eva M. (Arbuckle) MacLeod. In earlier years, Phyllis was employed as a telephone operator with the former MT & T for a brief time prior to returning home to care for her younger siblings and ailing mother. In 1951 she married Elward Anderson becoming a cherished daughter-in-law of the late Laura (MacLellan) Anderson, who became her best friend. Following her mother’s death, she took custody of her youngest sister, Helen and later, her brother Joe, raising them as her own. After the youngest of her children were in high school, Phyllis resumed working outside the home and fondly remembered her time as a school supervisor with the former East Pictou Rural High School. She was a member of Barney’s River Presbyterian Church, Kenzieville. Phyllis enjoyed an active social life for many years, bowling with the Shore Road Bowling League and attending community card parties with her many friends and neighbours. Surviving are her loving husband of 65 years, Elward; daughters, Marjorie (Eric) White, Dartmouth; Audrey (Fred Smith), Sydney; Faye (Brian) Walsh, Ottawa, Ont.; sons, Gordon (Velma), Avondale; Scott (Marjorie), Dartmouth; sisters, Edith Sangster, New Glasgow; Kaye Cogswell, Etobicoke, Ont.; Helen Marr, Ottawa; brothers, James, Hamilton, Ont.; Ronnie, Toronto, Ont.; Rod “Hector”, Dartmouth; Colin, Mississauga, Ont.; Joe, Downsview, Ont.; Sandy, Saskatoon, Sask.; grandchildren, Heather, Christopher, Ryan, Ian, Dan, Kathleen, Christie, Lindsay and Morgan; step grandchildren, Linda, Chesley and Crystal; several great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by sisters, Madeline, Myrtle, Aveon and Isabell; brothers, Bill and Walter “Neil”; a precious grandchild who was born into Heaven. The family will receive visitors 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Thursday Feb 11th in P. & K. MacDonald Funeral Home Chapel, New Glasgow. A private service will be held with interment in Murray’s Point Cemetery, Lower Barney’s River. Family flowers only. Donations may be made in memory Phyllis to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia or Lung Association of Nova Scotia. (Please clink on link to donate online) To plant Memorial Trees in memory of M. Phyllis Anderson, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.