Phyllis F. Dadzie Chihota

The wake will be held on Thursday, August 29th from 5pm to 8pm at:

Brandon Funeral Home 305 Wanoosnoc Road Fitchburg, MA

Funeral and Burial Services will be held on Friday, August 30th at 10am at:

Faith Worship Center 2 Lomar Park Pepperell, MA

Burial immediately after service at: Hillside Cemetery

31 Highland St. Townsend, MA

A Celebration of Life Luncheon immediately after burial service at:

Townsend Ridge Country Club 40 Scales Ln, Townsend, MA



On Wednesday, August 21, 2019, beloved mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt and friend, Phyllis Farai Dadzie passed away at the age of 63 while surrounded by family at Mass General Hospital in Boston, MA.

Phyllis was born to Elliot Budi Chihota and Edeline Chihota on May 6, 1956 in Enkledorn, Rhodesia.  She was the third oldest daughter in a family of seven girls and one boy.  Phyllis attended primary school at Kwenda Mission School, high school at George Starke Secondary School, and tertiary school at Speciss College where she trained as a secretary, graduating in 1973.  She began her career in 1974 working at Matthew Rusike Children’s Home as a secretary.  In 1978 she married Robson Gunda and they were blessed with three children: Cyril, Sharon and Godfrey.  Eventually Phyllis went on to work at Miz Wholesalers in Greater Salisbury as a receptionist, and then for Bata Shoe Company as a sales lady.  In 1989 Phyllis made a life altering migration to Massachusetts, U.S.A. where she planted roots and raised her children as a single mother.  In 2010, Phyllis married John Dadzie and they lived in Townsend, MA until she joined the angels.

Upon her arrival to the U.S., Phyllis began an extraordinary career of service unto others. She worked as a nursing assistant at Northwood Rehab (and other skilled nursing facilities) for many years then eventually gained her practical nursing license.  Phyllis’s career concluded at Life Care Center of Acton where she worked for 21 years, first as a nursing assistant, schedule coordinator and lastly as an LPN in various roles.

Phyllis is resting under the bosom of The Almighty together with her father Elliot Chihota.  Loved ones that will miss Phyllis sorely until they meet again are her husband John Dadzie; her mother Edeline Chihota of Chivhu, Zimbabwe; her son and daughter in-law Cyril and Mabel Gunda of Chisipite, Zimbabwe; her daughter and son in-law Sharon Gunda and Tinei Zhou of Pepperell, MA; her son Godfrey Gunda of Portland, ME; and her grandchildren Keith Gunda, Tsungai Gunda, Ariella Zhou and Colby Gunda.  Phyllis leaves behind seven siblings who will miss her dearly: Rudo Samaneka, Stembile Mhlanga, Jonas Chihota, Rebecca Gwatidzo, Mercy Simpson, Roseline Nelson and Sibongile Chihota, along with their spouses and children. She will also be missed by the extended Gunda family residing in Zimbabwe.

Phyllis loved The Lord and she was a devoted servant in the house of God.  She was a deaconess at Faith Tabernacle Christian Center, a loyal member of the Zimbabwean Fellowship and lead usher at her beloved Interdenominational Women of Faith Conferences.  Phyllis was adored by the community and known for her love, kindness, generosity, perseverance, unwavering faith and her walk with God.  She was an eloquent woman, and an outstanding mother, counselor, pillar, and advisor.  Blessed with an extra sense of dignity, she was objective, compassionate, empathetic and one who always flew above negativity.  She was bold, strong, full of culture and beauty, and an inspiration to many.  A perfectionist in every role she played.  She was a ONE in ALL and she will be sorely missed but never forgotten.

Phyllis’s wish was for her life to be celebrated and for everyone to wear pink commemorating her battle against breast cancer.

Phyllis exemplifies a life well lived.  In honor of her extraordinary life her children established the Phyllis Farai Breast Cancer Foundation.  The mission of this foundation is to provide a ray of light to Zimbabwean women living with breast cancer.  It is our hope that her spirit of generosity and selflessness will live on through this foundation’s work.  In lieu of flowers please donate to www.phyllisfarai.org or contact Sharon at 978-407-3880.