Write a commentOn June 10, 2026, Phyllis Jane Allen, 76, a resident of Cambridge, MA, passed away at Boston's Massachusetts General Hospital.
Born on April 30, 1950, in Oswego, NY to Edwin M. "Jiggs" and Doris Brown Allen, Phyllis graduated from the Campus School at Oswego State in 1965 and Oswego Catholic High School in 1968.
An excellent student, she entered Vassar College from which she graduated in 1972. Her degree was in psychology, the academic love of her life, leading to her career as a psychologist.
Her graduate studies were at the New School for Social Research in New York City with a second Master's degree in psychology from Oswego State in 2001 during a sabbatical year.
Her studies at the New School led to her living on Manhattan's Upper West Side for almost 40 years, and to her career as a psychologist for the New York City Public School District. There, she helped thousands of students and their parents by assessing whether and what special needs a student may have and then developing and arranging placement for services.
Phyllis loved New York City and embraced every experience it offered. She considered it her home place even after she moved to Cambridge, MA to be near her sister Elisabeth "Liz" Cody and her family, particularly Liz's son, David, with whom she had a special relationship.
Phyllis had many talents and interests, from painting, to acting, to exploration. Her trips took her to Europe, especially archeological digs in Italy, to Egypt, to Greece, to Russia, to China, to working sailing adventures as well to seeing the United States.
Every summer she returned to Oswego's Ramona Beach where her family had a camp on Lake Ontario where she enjoyed swimming, the sunsets, other campers, especially the "Ranalli girls" next door, as well as her family, particularly her mother and her nieces and nephew where she engaged in countless card and scrabble games, conversation and storytelling.
Phyllis was a favorite aunt who was well-loved by her nieces, nephew and grand nieces and nephews. Her visits were always well-anticipated and welcomed. She had a knack for bringing the exact right craft, game, book, other gift or treat and then engaging with each as well as with their many friends, resulting in so many joyous times.
Phyllis was a beloved daughter, sister, aunt and friend. She is survived by her sister Liz Cody of Center Harbor, NH; her brother John (Ann) Allen of Oswego, NY; her brother-in-law Alan Cody of Newton, MA; her nephew David Cody of East Boston, MA; her niece Katie (Brian) Bresnan and their children Madeline, John and Nora Bresnan; her niece Emily (Joe) Amendola of Norwood, MA and their children Joey, Ryan and Steven; and her niece Caroline (Terence) Kane of Washington, DC and their children Sinead and Emmet.
The family wishes to thank Phyllis' doctors as well as the nurses at the Massachusetts General Hospital for the wonderful care they provided her as well as for the kindnesses they provided her family.
On Monday, June 22, 2026, there will be a calling hour beginning at 10 a.m. at the Hall Newman Center at Oswego State, with the funeral Mass to immediately follow. Burial will then be at St. Peter's Cemetery on East River Road, Oswego, NY.
Funeral arrangements are by the Dowdle Funeral Home, Oswego, NY.
