Dee Ann Phelan

Dee Ann Phelan, 62, died Thursday after fighting ovarian cancer and its side effects for over 3 years.  She previously worked at State Employees Credit Union where she made many great friends.  She was also a member of the Capital Quilters Guild and the Quilting Bee, In Stitches, where she made many beautiful quilts.  Dee was a native of Illinois.  She was preceded in death by parents James Milton Corwin and Aldean Whittaker Corwin, as well as an infant son, Blake James.  Dee is survived by her husband, of 42 years, John Phillip Phelan of Garner, NC; originally from Peoria, IL. She is also survived by her son Shane Phelan (Erica) of Apex, NC; daughter Brehyan Kurtz (Pete) of Cary, NC; three grandchildren Ava Parres Phelan, John Blake Phelan and Aibhlinn Dee Kurtz; four brothers Kenrick Corwin (Pam) of Milton, FL, Gary Corwin (Barb) of Excelsior, MN, Randy Corwin (Liz) of Germantown Hills, IL and Louie Corwin (Pat) of Rockwall, TX. She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend that will always be missed and never replaced.  She was an avid quilter, but loved God and her family first and foremost.  She constantly thought of other people and what she could do to make them feel special.  Hopefully you were one of the people lucky enough to receive something handmade with her special signature.  Nothing made Dee happier than being a “Grammy”, and she often said, “What happens at Grammys, stays at Grammys.”. What a wonderful Grammy she was! The family is especially grateful for the care and support of Dr. Jeffrey Crane and the oncology team at UNC Rex Hospital, as well as the compassion of the staff at SECU Hospice House in Smithfield. We are blessed to have the years that we did with her but no time would ever have been enough.  Words cannot express our loss but we hold strong to her favorite verse, “He will cover you with his feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge” Psalm 91:4. Love You So Much In My Heart. A Funeral Mass will be held Tuesday, 10:00 am at St. Mary Mother of the Church, Catholic Church, Garner. The family will receive friends at Bryan-Lee Funeral Home, Garner from 6:00-8:00 pm Monday with a prayer service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Gail Perkins Memorial Ovarian Cancer Walk, 7413 Six Forks Rd. # 365, Raleigh, NC 27615 or to the SECU Hospice House, 426 Hospital Rd., Smithfield, NC 27577.