A bright light was dimmed on December 14, 2020, with the passing of Phyllis Faye (Lawson) Prendergast of Fredericton. While most obituaries begin with how a person has died, Phyllis's family, loved ones, and friends felt hers needed to start with how she lived.

Phyllis was born in Woodstock on February 1, 1951, the eldest child to proud parents Willard and the late Marion (Sheppard) Lawson of Grafton, NB.

Phyllis loved music as much as she loved her community.

She moved to Fredericton in 1970, and quickly became a "face of Fredericton."

She loved the city and worked tirelessly to support the many causes that touched her heart. She lent her talents to Pension Coalition NB, the Canadian Cancer Society, Meals on Wheels, the Scarlett Sisters, and the Happy Hatters. Phyllis never met a music event she didn't love. She helped out with anything organizers needed. She offered her time and administrative skills to the River Jam Music Festival, the Dooryard Arts and Music Festival, the Shivering Songs Festival, and the Larlee Creek Hullabaloo Music Festival. She was best known for her dedication to the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival. For 27 years, Phyllis was a driving force within that organization, including taking on the role of festival chair for a year, a job she was immensely proud of.

Phyllis was a graduate from Southern Carleton Regional High School and the Carleton County Vocational School. She began her career as a civil servant with the Province of New Brunswick right after school, and spent more than 30 years at the New Brunswick Department of Health. She enjoyed the camaraderie of work, but she loved retirement, as it gave her more time to volunteer, but also to be with her granddaughters, her father, her friends, and provided more opportunity to spoil her husband, Ronnie.

Meeting Phyllis meant meeting an instant friend. She gave the best hugs – a trait she inherited from her father, whom she adored. She gifted many friends and family members with her knitted art, and enjoyed good, long, fast-paced walks. She worked hard to keep herself healthy, keeping her diabetes in check, and, in doing so, provided inspiration to others.

She loved her four legged children, and mourned Tammy, Bitters, Tyson and her cat Amanda when they crossed over to Rainbow Bridge.

Phyllis passed away at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Hospital in Fredericton after a brief battle with cancer.

She is survived by the love of her life, and husband of 48 years, Ronnie; son, Mark of Fredericton; granddaughters, Emily Greenlaw Prendergast of Bayside, and Olivia McDonald-Prendergast of Shemogue; father, Willard Lawson of Grafton; brothers Guy Lawson (Judy) of Grafton, Dale Lawson (Susan) of Woodstock, Terry Lawson (Priscilla) of Bathurst, Danny Lawson of Fredericton, Chris Lawson (Heather) of Woodstock; sister Cindy Kinney (Kirk) of Woodstock; Aunts Joyce Sewell (Ralph) of Pembroke, and Carol Likely of Fredericton; Uncles Frank Lawson (Fredericton), and Lloyd (Wilma) Lawson of Grafton, and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her mother, Marion (Sheppard) Lawson.

The family would like to thank Phyllis's dear friends Samantha Norrad, Carolann Doherty, and Susan Duplacey, as well as those who have sent prayers, cards, and phone calls during this difficult time. Special thanks to the doctors, nurses, and staff of 4SW at the DECH, who provided excellent and compassionate care. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Carleton Funeral Home and Crematorium. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, there will be no visitation or funeral at this time. Interment will take place in the spring of 2021, where her ashes will be interred at the Lawson-Ballentine Cemetery, Bull Lake, NB.

In lieu of flowers expressions of sympathy can be made to Meals on Wheels, the Canadian Cancer Society, or the charity of the donor's choice.