Patrick Tyrone Phillips

Patrick Tyrone Phillips, the son of Audrey McDonald and Cecil Griffith, was born on October 22,1954, and grew up in Mount Stepney, Saint Peter, Barbados. He entered eternal rest on August 10, 2023, at the age of 68.

Known to many by “Tyrone” or “Austin,” Patrick was a devoted husband, a beloved father, and an affectionate grandfather. He was known for always going out of his way to help family and friends and for being the life of the party. He was an avid fan of cricket, golf, and tennis. His favorite pastimes included working as an umpire for local cricket leagues, gardening, watching his favorite sports, and doing handyman work for family and friends.

After graduating from the Federal School in Saint Michael, Barbados, he started working as a Mechanical Engineer at Mount Gay Rum Distillery and remained there for 16 years. While living in Barbados, he courted Marlene Brathwaite and they had one child, Jalessa L. Phillips, born on May 1,1990. In 1992, Patrick moved to the United States of America where he lived with his mother Audrey in East Orange, NJ. At that time, he began working at Clara Maass Medical Center in Belleville, NJ. He worked in various departments before ultimately settling in the Central Supply Department. It was at this hospital that he met and fell in love with his wife, Rizalinda “Linda” Raganit Phillips. Patrick and Rizalinda married on October 11, 1995 and had two children together; Patrick “PJ” Bernard Phillips on December 22, 1996 and Ashley J. Phillips on May 4, 2001. They chose to raise their family together in Union, NJ.

Patrick was an incredibly loyal employee at Clara Maass Medical Center. During his last few years there, he also began working concurrently part-time in the Materials Management Department at Short Hills Surgery Center in Millburn, NJ. In 2019, after 27 years of service, Patrick finally left Clara Maass Medical Center when he was offered the full-time position of Materials Management Coordinator at Short Hills Surgery Center. Patrick worked there for seven years before he was forced to retire due to his illness.

Coming from a very large family and group of friends, Patrick was loved by many. He peacefully departed this world surrounded by his family. He is predeceased by his grandparents, Iris Phillips and Goulbourne Phillips; father Cecil Griffith, brother Peter Phillips, cousin Elizabeth Scott, and uncle Melvin Hood. He is survived by his wife Rizalinda; three children Jalessa, Patrick Bernard and Ashley; one grandchild Julian Austin Phillips; mother Audrey McDonald; five siblings Patricia Napier, Ann McDonald Collins, Robert McDonald, Julie Ann Griffith, Patricia Marvyn Usherwood; his brother-in-law Reggie Collins; his sister-in-law Latisha Phillips; his uncles Irvine Phillips and Cleophus Hood; his aunts Edmena Scott, Erla Mascoll, and Edna Rock; cousins Trevor “Tony” Scott, Mayleen Scott, Winston Collymore, Jeremy Collymore, Ian Collymore, relatives of the Bowen, Hood, Mascoll, and Rock families; many nephews and nieces; and extended family members and close friends.

Visitation will be held on Friday, August 18, 2023 from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., In the Union Funeral Home, 1600 Stuyvesant Avenue Union, NJ 07083. A prayer service will begin at 8 p.m. in the funeral home. A Funeral Mass will be on Saturday, August 19, 2023, in at Saint Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic Church, 1212 Kelly Street, Union, NJ 07083, starting at 10 a.m. Interment to follow at Hollywood Memorial Park Cemetery in Union.