Phyllis Dircks
Friday
24
January

Visitation

5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Friday, January 24, 2025
M. A. Connell Funeral Home Inc.
934 New York Avenue
Huntington Station, New York, United States
Saturday
25
January

Mass

9:15 am
Saturday, January 25, 2025
St. Patricks Church
400 Main St.
Huntington, New York, United States

Final Resting Place

St. Patrick's Cemetery
45 Huntington Road
Huntington, New York, United States

Obituary of Phyllis Dircks

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PHYLLIS DIRCKS OBITUARY

 

Phyllis T. Dircks, 90, of Huntington, New York, died peacefully on January 16, 2025, in her home, surrounded by her family.  A beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, Phyllis, or “Fi”, will always be remembered for her intellect, her generosity, her warmth, her wit, and her faith.

 

Born on January 8, 1935, in Astoria, New York, Phyllis was the daughter of Catherine and John Toal, Scottish immigrants.  While in her last year of high school, Phyllis’ father died suddenly, causing Phyllis to decline a full scholarship to college so she could work to help support her family. While working full time, Phyllis earned her B.A. from St. John’s University. She then obtained her M.A. from Brown University and her Ph.D. from New York University. Phyllis began her teaching career at St. John’s, where she met Richard Dircks, also an English Professor.  Phyllis and Richard married in 1963.  They shared 41 happy years together and were the parents to six children and grandparents to 19 grandchildren.

 

Phyllis taught at C.W. Post College of Long Island University, where she was a Professor of English Literature for more than50 years. Over the course of her career, Phyllis was the recipient of numerous prestigious awards, including the Danforth Foundation Teacher Fellowship, the National Woodrow Wilson Fellowship, and the Long Island University David Newton Award for Excellence in Teaching. A specialist in contemporary American drama, Phyllis was a national expert on the works of playwrights Eugene O’Neil and Edward Albee. She authoredseveral books and many scholarly articles.  Phyllis was a member of the Theatre Library Association Board of Directorsand served the American Society for Theatre Research for many years as both Editor of the ASTR Newsletter and Archivist of the Society. 

 

Although Phyllis’ career gave her much happiness, her true joy came from the time she spent  with family.  Phyllis is survived by her children, Cathy (Gerald) Cruise, Laurie (William) Goggins, Deirdre (Daniel) deBruin, Richard (Tara) Dircks, Joseph (Nancy) Dircks and her 19 grandchildren, Amanda Cruise, Andrew Cruise, Matthew Cruise, Kaitlyn Edwards, Billy Goggins, Michael Goggins, Joseph Goggins, Lillian deBruin, Jacqueline deBruin, Kara deBruin, Daniel deBruin, Alexander Dircks, Luke Dircks, Ainsley Dircks, Madeline Dircks, Dryden Rooney, Kian Rooney, Tyler Dircks, and Lauren Dircks.  She is predeceased by her husband, Richard, her daughter, Gillian (John) Rooney, her brother, James Toal OFM, and her brother Lawrence (Shelia)Toal.  

 

Phyllis was a devout Catholic and faithful parishioner at St. Patrick’s Church in Huntington. She became a member of theSecular Franciscan Order in 2019 and regularly attended meetings at St. Matthew’s parish in Dix Hills, NY.

 

Family will receive friends between 5 and 8 p.m. on January 24, 2025, at M. A. Connell Funeral Home, 934 New York Avenue, Huntington Station, NY 11746.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9:15 a.m. on Saturday, January 25, 2025, at the Church of St. Patrick, 400 Main Street, Huntington, NY 11743,with the burial immediately thereafter at St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Huntington Road, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Franciscan Missions at:

General Secretariat of the Franciscan Missions, Inc.

P.O. Box 130

Waterford, WI 53185

ATTN: Bro. Andrew J. Brophy OFM

Phone: 262-534-5470

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