Phyllis Maki (née Martel)

Passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at the age of 81. A devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, she leaves behind a family and a community made immeasurably richer for having known her.
Born in Chapleau to Arthur and Helen (Donivan) Martel, Phyllis made her cherished home in Sudbury, Newcastle, and finally Cobourg, where she devoted herself to the art of family and was, by every measure, a master of it.
Phyllis is survived by her beloved husband of 62 years, Brian Maki, whose devotion was as steady and enduring as the woman herself; her children Vanessa (Shawn) McBride and Richard (Jennifer Younger); her grandchildren Ashley and Kaitlyn McBride, and Elissa and Erik Maki; and her treasured great-grandchild Kase, son of Kaitlyn and Peter.
She is predeceased by her parents, Arthur and Helen Martel, and by her beloved sister, Marlene (Carmen) Lambert.
Phyllis will be deeply missed by her brothers, Phillip (Charlene) and Donald (Charlene) Martel, by her brother-in-law Carmen Lambert, and by the many family members and friends whose lives she so warmly touched. She loved them all dearly — though she loved her brothers perhaps most when the laughter came at their expense.
A proud employee of Chrysler Canada for 32 years, Phyllis brought to her work the same quiet loyalty that defined everything she did. Away from the plant floor, her greatest pleasures were uncomplicated and true: family gatherings that stretched long into the evening, bingo, her beloved weekly poker game, and the music that seemed to follow her wherever she went. She possessed a rare gift for laughter.
Hers was the kind of presence that made every room feel more complete. She will be remembered not only for how long she lived, but for how fully — with generosity, humour, and an unwavering love for the people she called her own.
Rest easy, Phyllis. The poker table won't be the same without you.

Friends and family are warmly invited to a drop-in celebration of Phyllis's life at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 30, 29A Thomas Street, Port Hope, Ontario, on Saturday, June 13, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. All are welcome to come and share their memories.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Cobourg Food Bank or the Port Hope Food Bank in Phyllis's memory.