Obituary of Phyllis Kern

Phyllis C. Kern, a retired nurse, passed away in the early morning hours on December 25, 2014, surrounded by her family. She was 83. Phyllis was born and raised in Lynn, Massachusetts, the daughter of the late Emanuel and Maria Coppola. Upon her graduation from Lynn Classical High School in 1948, Phyllis attended Nursing School at Salem Hospital and earned her nursing degree in 1951. She then joined the Salem Hospital nursing staff. In 1953, she married George Kern of Lawrence, an aerospace engineer. In 1956, they settled in Burlington, where they raised five children and became active in the community. Phyllis and George were long time members of the Burlington High School Booster Club and the Sons of Italy. Phyllis was also a longstanding member of the Burlington Garden Club and garnered numerous ribbons and special awards at local and regional flower shows for her exquisite floral arrangements. Phyllis worked as a substitute nurse in the Burlington School System and at RCA. Later, she worked as an industrial nurse at the Mitre Corporation in Bedford. Upon their retirement, George and Phyllis spent their winters in Marco Island, Florida, and especially enjoyed their time with their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Phyllis is predeceased by her husband, George, and leaves her son Kevin and his wife Cynthia of Littleton, her daughter Kristin Kulig and her husband Douglas of Hopkinton, her son Stephen of Atlanta, her son David and his wife Teresa of Methuen, and her son Jeff and his wife Abena of Brooklyn. Phyllis was the much loved sister of Joy Wise of Rockport. She was also the proud grandmother of William, Richard, Gregory, Jacqueline and Bradford Kern and Alana and Camille and Graham Kulig. She was blessed with three great-grandchildren, Ashley, Owen and Theo Kern. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews and cousins. Visiting hours will be held at the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLINGTON (exit 34 off Rt. 128/95, Woburn side) on Saturday, Dec. 27 , from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Malachy Church, 99 Bedford St., Burlington at noon. Interment in Pine Haven Cemetery, Burlington. Memorials in Phyllis’s name may be made to American Heart Association, 20 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701