Phyllis Garber (nee Matula), age 79, passed away peacefully on March 10, 2023 at St Anthony, Majestic Care in Crown Point, IN.
Originally from Chicago, she was longtime resident of Munster, IN. She had a rewarding career in the retail industry as infant and children’s buyer for Goldblatt Brothers Department Store and Crawford Department Store, where she met and married her ex-husband, the late Alan Garber. Her knowledge of the retail industry brought her the opportunity to teach classes at Ray Vogue/Ray College of Design in the mid-1980’s. Although Phyllis had no children of her own, she was godmother to many, and was “Auntie Phyllis” to many more.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Antoinette Matula, her brother John Matula, her sister, Annette Tyrrell, her niece, Elizabeth Matula and Uncle Stephen Matula.
She is survived by, and will be greatly missed by, her caring and devoted niece Dawn Wojcik, Dawn’s children Finn Hedrick, Joseph Hedrick and Eva Kocinski, loving cousins Mary Andrews and Sr. Clare Marie Rohunty, and dear friend of 37 years Madeleine Goodman Slutsky. Phyllis will always be remembered as a dear friend and neighbor to many.
At her request, no services will be held. To honor Phyllis’s memory, consider donating to the ASPCA at aspca.org.