Along with her two brothers, Gus, and Kyriaco, Fotene was raised in New York City to immigrant parents, Emmanuel Pappas and Mary Mihanedjoglou. Phyllis was extremely proud to be born an American, but at the same time deeply treasured her Greek heritage.
During the war years, she met George, a young navy ensign and gunnery officer on leave in the city, and they fell in love, but were soon separated when George returned to duty aboard the USS Graffias. This was one of her life events that forged her fiercely independent and self-reliant nature. In 1947, at the end of his tour, George immediately returned to NYC to find his sweetheart Phyllis. They soon married and had four children.
Most of Phyllis’ life was devoted to raising her family, but that did not exclude her love of life and fun. Phyllis’ quick-witted humor and genuine enjoyment of others made her easily accepted in all social situations. Well into her 80’s Phyllis continued to work as an office manager at Indian River Pointe in Jensen Beach, FL. Still wanting to be social, she also volunteered as an usher at the Pineapple Playhouse, and as a storyteller at the Oxbow Eco center and a member of St. Nicholas Orthodox Church. Phyllis had a big passion & love for dancing (usually freestyle to all the oldies) but was also a great belly dancer for quite some time! Phyllis will be desperately missed by those she left behind, but her joyful spirit will be carried on for generations.
Arrangements are planned for 9:00 a.m. Saturday April 20th at Aycock Funeral Home on Floresta Drive in Port St Lucie followed by burial at Evergreen Cemetery in Fort Lauderdale that afternoon.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.9.5