Phoebe Blumer Hornblower died peacefully in her home in Greenwich, Conn. on Thursday, Nov. 10. She was 83.

Born June 9, 1933 in Tabora, Tanganyika, East Africa, Phoebe was the oldest daughter of John Alder Blumer and Lady Mary Maitland Blumer of Cheltenham, England.

Her father, John Blumer, went to Tanganyika (now Tanzania) in 1928, where he was a school master in the Colonial Government service for 22 years, returning to England in 1950. Phoebe attended the Loretto Convent in Kenya from 1942 to 1949. She later became a qualified nurse, having undertaken her training at St. Thomas’ Hospital in London, and then worked at McLean Hospital in Belmont until she moved permanently to Greenwich, Conn. upon marrying her husband, Ralph Hornblower Jr. They married in Abberley, Worcestershire, England on Oct. 12, 1960.

Phoebe was deeply involved in the Greenwich community. She was a devout member of Christ Church, where she served on the Vestry, the Altar Guild, Education for Ministry, Lay Eucharistic Ministry, and various Outreach Programs. She was a member of Hortulus in Greenwich, and Daughters of the British Empire. She founded the sewing program at Greenwich Country Day School, where she then taught for more than 25 years.

She also cherished her time on Martha’s Vineyard, at the family property on Squibnocket Farm in Chilmark, and her involvement with St. Andrew’s Church in Edgartown as well as Vineyard Open Land Foundation.

Her husband, Ralph Hornblower Jr., of Greenwich, Conn., predeceased her in March 1987. He was a partner at the investment banking firm Hornblower & Weeks.

She is survived by her siblings and their spouses: Anthony and Mary Blumer of Cheltenham, England; Peter and Helen Blumer of Wandsworth, England; Philippa and James Bell of Salisbury, England, and Christopher and Skippy Blumer of Cuddington, England. She is also survived by her three sons and their families: John Greenwood Hornblower of Snowmass Village, Colo.; David Maitland Hornblower and his wife, Melissa King, of New York, N.Y.; and James Wainwright Hornblower and his wife, Fiona Trevelyan Hornblower, of Concord. Phoebe was also the loving stepmother to: Rosalie Hornblower of Cambridge; Ralph Hornblower 3rd of New York, N.Y.; Paul Hornblower of Chilmark; and Priscilla Hornblower of Cambridge. She is also survived by 13 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, all of whom adored her.

A funeral service and celebration of her life will be held at Christ Church in Greenwich on Friday, Nov. 18 at 11 a.m., with a reception immediately following at the Round Hill Club in Greenwich. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Christ Church, 254 East Putnam Avenue, Greenwich, CT 06830.