Phyllis Wade

Phyllis Wade (nee Novello), born in Brooklyn on May 30, 1944, passed away peacefully at her home in Morganville, NJ on November 6, 2024. She was a loving mother and grandmother. She will be missed, and will never be forgotten.

Phyllis was born to Nicholas and Rita Novello as the oldest of three children. She was raised just off Flatbush Avenue in the Marine Park section of Brooklyn. After living in Brooklyn her entire life, she married and lived for a time in Hawaii, Connecticut, and Florida. After having Patrick and Jennifer, she moved back to New York in 1980, settling in Staten Island, and began raising her two children on her own. She devoted her life to her children, and was there for them every step of the way. The children never wanted for anything, which is pretty amazing for a single mom in the 80s. Phyllis started her career in the financial industry as a secretary, and continually worked her way up the corporate ladder until she retired as a Human Resources Executive at Citigroup. While raising two children, and working full time, she also went back to school and got her degree.

For her entire life, one of the things that Phyllis loved most was to travel. This began shortly after she graduated high school, and continued for the rest of her life. She took her children on many vacations, and instilled her love of adventure into her children. At some point in the 1990’s, Phyllis took her first cruise. Thereafter, she was hooked. Phyllis loved taking cruises. She loved the ships, the island hopping, and everything else that goes along with taking a cruise. She loved it so much she began working as a travel agent and booked cruise vacations for people. She knew every in and out of the industry. She did this in addition to her job at Citigroup, and continued after she retired. She did this for fun, and it made her a little money on the side too. It also got her some perks for her cruises!

Another thing that Phyllis loved was the family that she created. She loved her children dearly, and her grandchildren maybe more! Whenever she spent time with her grandchildren, she had a constant smile on her face. She was also proud of the family she created and the lives she provided for. We are proud of her as well; for raising two children as a single mom, for getting her degree later in life, for working her way up the corporate ladder through hard work, for constantly going on adventures, for what she provided for, for the love she shared, and for the love she instilled.

She is survived by her son and daughter and their families: Patrick Wade of Staten Island, NY, her daughter-in-law Rachel, and their two grandchildren, Kieran and Callum.

Jennifer Melfi (nee Wade), her son-in-law Vinny, and their four children, Vincent, Dominick, Paul, and Anthony.

She is also survived by her brother Joseph Novello, her sister-in-law Karen Novello, her sister Eleanor Virgilio, her niece Nicole Pampinella, her niece Michelle Mackenzie, and her nephew James Virgilio.

Phyllis, we know you are on the biggest, most beautiful ship in heaven right now, and its sailing on the smoothest crystal blue seas. Bon Voyage Phyllis. We love you.

A visitation for Phyllis will be held Tuesday, November 12, 2024 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM and from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Casey Funeral Home, 350 Slosson Ave, Staten Island, NY 10314.

A religious ceremony will occur Wednesday, November 13, 2024 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Blessed Sacrament Roman Catholic Church, 1091 Forest Ave, New York, NY 10310.

A committal service will occur Wednesday, November 13, 2024 from 12:00 PM to 12:30 PM at The Green-Wood Cemetery, 500 25th St, New York, NY 11232.