Mary Louise Philbrick

Mary Louise Philbrick

ARKPORT – Mary Lou Philbrick passed away at her home on Sharp Hill Road on Wednesday (Oct. 13, 2021) after an extended illness.

Mary Lou was born in Olean, NY on Sept. 24, 1939 to her parents Lawrence Armstrong and Elizabeth (Breckenridge) Armstrong. She lived in Hornell, NY in her early years and graduated from Hornell High School in 1957. She studied nursing at The University of Rochester Department of Nursing and received her diploma in 1960. She returned to Hornell, NY and worked as an RN for several doctors. She married Kenneth D. Philbrick on Aug. 20, 1960 and remained married to him for 61 years until she passed away.

Mary Lou and Ken moved to Portsmouth, Ohio for two years and Mary Lou worked as an RN at two hospitals in Portsmouth. They then returned to Hornell, NY and eventually lived in North Hornell for many years. In 1984, Mary Lou and Ken moved to Arkport, NY

Mary Lou and Ken had three children – Larry (Tyler Parrish) Philbrick, Laurie (Rick) Puffer, and Scott (Gina) Philbrick, as well as two grandchildren, Ryan (Mary) Willis and Ian Philbrick-Miller. Mary Lou loved spending time with her family and was a devoted mother and wife and a wonderful friend to many. She also enjoyed and loved her dogs. Mary Lou was predeceased by her daughter, Laurie, in 2011, and her son-in-law, Rick, in 2015.

A private, family-only, funeral service will be held Monday (Oct. 18, 2021) at the Bishop & Johnson Funeral Home, Inc., 285 Main St., Hornell. Committal services and interment will follow at Heritage Hill Cemetery, Arkport, NY.

Donations in Mary Lou’s name can be made to either the Hornell Area Humane Society, 7649 Industrial Park Road, Hornell, NY 14843 or to the Food Bank of the Southern Tier, 388 Upper Oakwood Ave., Elmira, NY 14903 (www.foodbnkst.org/donate).

The Bishop & Johnson Funeral Home, Inc. in Hornell is honored to assist Mary Lou’s family with the arrangements.

To add your own personal remembrance or condolence you may click on the link below or visit the Facebook page of Bishop & Johnson Funeral Home, Inc.

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