Kendall Oneal Phells passed away on Tuesday, April 28, 2026 at Birchwood Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center in Cranford after a nearly 4 year battle with nasopharyngeal cancer. He was 69 years old.

Born at Fort Dix, an active US Army Base on May 9, 1956 to the late Maezelma (nee Cregg) and Curtis Phells, he has resided in New Brunswick, Ingrandes France, Edison, Summit and Woodbridge, before moving to the Avenel section of Woodbridge Township in 1993.

Mr. Phells was employed as logistics manager with Taylored Services in Edison for ten years before retiring in 2024; and also worked part time for Primerica Financial Services.

A devoted family man, Kendall enjoyed spending time with his wife, son, and extended family and friends. He loved collecting comics and had a collection of over 1,000 comics. He also loved music, collecting albums and going to many concerts with his wife and friends.

He was a founding and active member of the Woodbridge Township Community Emergency Response Team (CERT); Shore Athletic Club, where he held several titles, Montclair Rugby Club, played football and was shot putter on the track and field team while attending Lafayette College in Easton, PA, was a member of the Montclair Rugby Club, participated in the Senior Olympics, and volunteered with Friends of Plays in the Park, Edison following in the footsteps of his mother.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Phells was predeceased by his brother, Gregory Phells.

Surviving are his wife of 31 years, Michelle Gagnon Phells; and son, Derek Phells, of Avenel.

Visitation will be on Thursday, April 30, 2026 from 3:00 until 7:00 p.m. at the Costello-Koyen Funeral Home (costello-koyen.com), 399 Avenel Street, Avenel. A funeral service will take place on Friday, May 1, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. at the funeral home. Entombment will be at Franklin Memorial Park, North Brunswick.

Contributions to CERT Woodbridge, attention: Bryan Austin, One Main Street, Woodbridge, NJ 07095 or Rutgers Cancer Institute (give.rutgersfoundation.org) in Mr. Phells’ memory would be greatly appreciated by his loved ones.