Janet Unz Phyfe

Janet Unz Phyfe, 97, died Thursday, October 28, 2021 at Masonicare in Wallingford, CT. Janet grew up in New York City and moved with her family to Darien, CT for her junior year of high school. Her father was a founding member of the Norwalk Skating Club, providing the family hours of shared enjoyment with the skating community. Janet graduated from Low Heywood School and earned her BA at Wheaton College. She worked in New York for several years before getting married, settling in Darien, and raising five children. She enjoyed tennis into her 80s and many volunteer activities at St. Luke’s Parish. Janet was also a past president of Darien Book Aid and a volunteer at Tots ‘n’ Teens, a lively local thrift shop whose proceeds benefited Planned Parenthood. She moved to Rowayton in the mid-seventies and reveled in creating multiple gardens around her home, chatting with passersby, hosting children and grandchildren to the beach, and mowing her lawn with a push mower until her 80s. Janet was a member of the Rowayton Gardeners Club, and her passion for the outdoors led her to support the Norwalk Land Trust in its mission to preserve open spaces. In 2006, Janet relocated to Ashlar Village in Wallingford, became active in a book group, joined St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, and enjoyed creating gardens around her home.

Janet is survived by her five children: William Phyfe and his wife Margaret, Edith Phyfe, Craig Phyfe and his wife Susan, Duncan Phyfe and his wife Kathleen, and Janet (“Dee-Dee”) Pawlina and her husband Gregory; ten grandchildren: Elizabeth Mazzucco and her husband Thomas, and Katherine Phyfe; Evelyn Walsh and Victoria Walsh; Jonathan Phyfe and his wife Anne, and David Phyfe and his wife Kimberly; Duncan Phyfe; and Amanda Dowd and her husband Brandon, Christine Pawlina, and Catherine Pawlina; and two great grandsons. She is also survived by her sister Barbara Hart of Virginia. Another sister, Elizabeth Delaney of Michigan, predeceased her.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, January 24, 2022 at 1 pm at St. Luke’s Parish in Darien, CT. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Norwalk Land Trust, a favorite organization of Janet’s. Donations by check or electronic payment should be sent to: Norwalk Land Trust PO Box 34 Norwalk, CT 06853 Website: norwalklandtrust.org

The check/donation should include “In Memory of Janet Phyfe” on the subject line.