Margaret Reid Phillips, “Maggie”, age 74, of Pompton Lakes, passed away on Monday, February 12, 2018.

One of Howard and Dorothy Reid’s six children, Maggie was born in Lyndhurst and raised in Secaucus and after marriage moved to Little Ferry where she raised her three children: Kathleen, Karen and Christopher.

MaggieÅ› career included several corporate office positions including Office Manager until she became a sales representative for Homes Magazine which parlayed into a very successful career that began in 1980 in residential real estate where she received such accolades as becoming a member of the Million Dollar Club. She became a Real Estate Broker during the latter years of her career and opened her own business, World Properties in Oakland, NJ.

Maggie enjoyed shopping, road trips, decorating and cooking but most of all, Maggie was an extremely devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She signed her children up for dance, softball and baseball and was their biggest cheerleader in the stands. She filled her childrenÅ› life with family and traditions and showed them the value of having that in their lives, creating lifelong memories. She was Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny and if her children did not have something they were never the wiser. She was their travel guide bringing them anywhere she thought would be fun to see and make memories. Maggie taught her children that nothing was impossible. If there was a will there was a way and to never give up, to believe in themselves and even in their weakest moments to keep their chin up. She let her children and grandchildren make mistakes but never shamed them for them. She protected her family, loved them, nurtured them and made them feel important. She made her children strong but soft enough to be the parents they are now and by example showed how to give, to love and to balance. Maggie instilled in her family that nothing was as important as family, to respect their elders, their Grandparents and to live for today not wait for tomorrow, to take care of themselves and each other. She taught her entire family to find the humor in things, but also the lessons and to not take everything so seriously. Her sense of humor and wit was infectious. She was not only a mother and grandmother, but a friend tried and true. Maggie was someone you could always count on. Whether you were a friend, family or someone she just met, Maggie would lend a hand and help you. She was someone who would always listen and give the best advice even if it was what you did not want to hear. She was honest and forthcoming.

Maggie was a force on this earth. She was strong, smart and beautiful and will be missed so very much by all of her family and friends. Her generosity and caring nature was her trademark. Her family and the love they have for her and each other is her legacy and a true testament to the wife, mother and grandmother she was.

Maggie was the beloved wife of William; loving mother of Karen and husband Peter Hug of Pompton Lakes, Kathleen and husband Steven Roman of Pompton Lakes, and Christopher and wife Patricia Graber of Lincoln Park; cherished grandmother of Edward and wife Therese, Kristle and husband Ryan, Matthew and fiancé Jackie, Peter, Andrew, Christopher, Keira, Ryan, Lucas, and Jacob; and adored great-grandmother of Aiden and Chase. She was predeceased by four sisters: Doris Cabany, Beverly Judge, Ruth Safer, and Judith Cortese; and one brother: Charles Reid.

Those planning an expression of sympathy in Margaret’s name are asked to consider St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959 (www.stjude.org).