Phyllis Arlene Weil

Family and friends are mourning the loss of Phyllis Arlene Weil of Asheville, North Carolina, who passed away peacefully in the early hours of April 21, 2026, at the age of 93.

The former Phyllis Cohen was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on August 16, 1932, to Lou and Miriam (Wiseman) Cohen. She was a devoted daughter and was especially helpful to her mother following the passing of her older sister, Shirley, in 1942 and her father in 1947. After graduating from high school, she went on to study at what was then Michigan State College in East Lansing. Through mutual friends, she met William M. Weil, a New York City native who was a student at the University of Michigan, and the couple exchanged vows in 1951.

The early years of their marriage included such adventures as living in a log cabin beside the Mississippi River in Davenport, Iowa, while Bill pursued his career as an engineer. They later resided in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Long Island, New York, before returning to Michigan and settling in Southfield in the mid-1960s. Along the way, they raised four children, Stephen, Lori, Gary, and Amy. During the family's time in Michigan, Phyllis worked in the Senior Services Department for the City of Oak Park.

Phyllis and Bill relocated to Asheville following his retirement from the Ford Motor Company, and Phyllis never ceased to marvel at the mountain scenery of her adopted hometown. The couple served as volunteers at St. Joseph's Hospital and traveled extensively during their retirement years, taking numerous Elderhostel trips to destinations in the U.S. and Europe and attending the Weil Thanksgiving gatherings in locations such as South Carolina, Texas, and Florida. Their marriage ultimately spanned 60 years before Bill's passing in 2011.

A voracious reader, Phyllis was an active member of her book club for many years, and she possessed a steely determination to leave no crossword puzzle unfinished. She also spent many happy hours visiting with neighbors, playing cards and rummikub in the company of her dear friends, and rooting on her beloved Atlanta Braves.

Phyllis Weil lived a full and generous life surrounded by those she loved, and they will forever carry her close in their hearts.

Phyllis is survived by her children: Stephen Weil (Adele Conway), Lori Hill (Jeff), Gary Weil (Sue), and Amy Krieghoff (Rob); her grandchildren: Andrea Weil, Aaron Weil, Julia Weil, Samantha Cousland, Avery Krieghoff, and Palmer Krieghoff; and her great-grandchildren: Connor Demko and Sebastian Demko.

A gravesite memorial will occur at a later date, when she will be laid to rest beside Bill at the Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery in Black Mountain.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Phyllis Arlene Weil, please visit our floral store.