Phyllis S. Laurito

She is survived by four children, who loved her dearly: Louis Laurito, Ricky (Sandy) Laurito, Anne (David) McCormick and Louann (Sham) Bahgat.

She has five grandchildren: Ricky Laurito, David McCormick, Amanda Bahgat and Hessen Bahgat’ as well as two great-grandchildren: Ricky and Anna Laurito.

She is survived by one sister-in-law, Jan (Joe) Laurito; as well as several nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her loving husband, Louis Laurito; and all of her siblings: Ben Poweski, Marion Poweski, Esther Descz and Evelyn Frye.

Phyllis focused her life around her family and her church. While she did work part-time during her life as a telephone operator and later, as a bookeeper, her primary focus family and church. Phyllis was very involved with St. Anthony’s Church, running various fundraisers, especially the bingo program and the women’s guild. She volunteered her time as a home economics teacher at St. Anthony’s School, and many still remember her lessons and great food. She loved to bake and is best known for her St. Joseph’s bread, Paczki doughnuts and Italian cookies, which she would share with friends and family. Phyllis was Polish, but many thought she was Italian, as she truly embraced and she thought of our grandmother, Anne Laurito as her mother, as her own mother died when she was very young. As the Laurito family lost the first generation, Phyllis did her best to keep the traditions our grandmother, Anna instilled, doing her best to organize the annual family picnic and encourage all members of our family to stay close.

Phyllis was an original founder of the Share and Care organization. She had a dream to have a senior center in Fredonia, as she felt seniors of the local community need a place to gather to escape isolation. While she did not see her dream come true, we strive to make it a reality to her dedication in the future.

In the last year of her life she was blessed by several angels in her life: Linda Siragusa who visited weekly after church, Debbie Cosme who shared lunch with her on Tuesdays and Maria, Debbie, Cindy, Stacy and Carol, the gurdian angels who took excellent care of her. Truly, Phyllis will be sadly missed by everyone.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Anthony’s Church in Fredonia or the Lakeshore Humane Society where Phyllis adopted her faithful cat, Tiger.

The funeral will be on Tuesday, March 29, 2022, at St. Anthony’s Church at 11 a.m. Relatives and friend are invited to attend the funeral Mass. There will be no public visiting hours.

All arrangements have been entrusted to Michael R. Fantauzzi, owner and director of the FANTAUZZI FUNERAL HOME. 82 E. Main St., Fredonia, N.Y.