Ulla Phillips

Ulla Phillips died peacefully Sept. 15, 2018 at home in Lawrence, KS surrounded by her closest loved ones. She was born in Helsinki, Finland on March 25, 1927 to Dr. Wilhelm & Selma Sucksdorff.

A registered nurse, Ulla came to America in ’59, intent on working only a year as a lab technician at Hinsdale Hospital just outside Chicago. She made frequent visits to but never again lived in her native land. Instead, having fallen in love, she married Bernard J. Phillips, who would become her husband of 57 years. Her journey with her family took her to Kansas in ’76, where Ulla, who had obtained U.S. citizenship in ’65, lived the rest of her life: including in Ellsworth, Leawood for 38 years, and in Lawrence starting in 2016. Among values dear to Ulla: frugality – directed toward most of her own steps in life – love, and love put to action in care. These latter two were most prominently pointed toward children and family but certainly also manifested in her vocation: Ulla was known for her patient and very compassionate nursing at the several nursing homes she worked at in the Kansas City area. In work and life, she touched many through her care and kindness. At various stages in her life, she enjoyed her pet dogs, travel, square dancing, Halloween costuming, and antiques, but above all family.

She is preceded in death by her parents, sisters Hellin and Maija as well as nephew Vessa and daughter-in-law Marian Yeahpau. She is survived by her husband Bernie, daughter Tracy Monica & son-in-law Brian Hershey, son Clifton and grandson Gabriel Moreno, as well as in Finland by nieces and nephews Tarja, Kari, Harry and Carl-Johan and their progeny.

A visitation will be held from 2-3 PM, service 3 PM, on Saturday, September 29, at Johnson County Funeral Chapel, 11200 Metcalf Ave, Overland Park, KS 66210.