Phyllis Osias

Cheshire ' Phyllis S. Osias, passed away May 27, 2009 at the Highlands Health care Center. She was the wife of Jack Osias.

Mrs. Osias was a modern history teacher at Cheshire High School for 22 years. Her reputation as a competent and exceptional teacher was well recognized by her fellow faculty and students. Phyllis moved from New York City with her husband and two children in 1956, where she obtained a teaching position at the new high school in Cheshire. Phyllis also devoted her time to many civic activities. In 1968 she and her husband helped found Temple Beth David in Cheshire with eighteen Jewish families. Phyllis organized the Hebrew School for the Temple and for the first year held classes in the dining room of her home. She was interested in helping refugees and devoted her spare time to teaching English to them in Cheshire. In 1984 she became the director of the Cheshire Interfaith Food Drive and was very successful in making it a town event, with participation of many churches and schools. She was recognized with her husband, Jack, by the State of Connecticut in 1992 for her many services to the Cheshire community.

Besides her husband of 67 years, Mrs. Osias is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Alison and Donald Clark of Enfield; her grandsons Jeremy and Leland Clark. She was predeceased by her son Jonathan Robert Osias.

Arrangements ' Funeral services will be held on Sunday May 31, 2009 at Temple Beth David, 3 Main St. at 1 p.m. Burial will follow in Cheshire Hillside cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Temple Beth David or to the Cheshire Food Drive, P.O. Box 926, Cheshire, CT 06410. The Slater Funeral Home, 242 S. Main St., Cheshire is in charge of arrangements.