Phyllis Brandt Bramuchi

Phyllis Kay Brandt Bramuchi (89) entered heaven on September 10, 2021 surrounded by her husband and 7 children. Phyllis, an only child, was born to Robert Greenleaf Brandt and Rosemary Pershing Brandt on March 20, 1932 in Aspinwall (Pittsburgh), PA. Phyllis was an accomplished pianist during her youth, eventually sitting in as rehearsal pianist for the Pittsburgh Ballet and performers such as Shirley Jones. Her mother was a relative of General John J. Pershing and her grandfather on her father’s side, Lewis Brandt, built the original Forbes Field.

In 1957, Phyllis and her dear friend Joan Gilmore moved to West Palm Beach, Florida. It was there that she met the love of her life, James Ernest Bramuchi, at a Catholic bible study and they were soon married in January, 1959. Their life together was one of deep faith, commitment to lovingly raising their seven children, and compassion and service to the poor and needy. When their first child was two weeks old, they were already driving the school bus to pick up seasonal migrant workers and their families to attend Mass on Sundays.

Phyllis always had a smile and welcomed all into her life and her home. There were no strangers to her, only friends she had yet to meet. She had a very close group of girlfriends, their own ya-ya sisterhood, that continues to support each other to this day. She, Jim and their children loved the outdoors and were avid campers, even taking a journey when the youngest, seventh child was just two weeks old. Music also continued to be an important part of her life; she taught piano to many of her children, and sang and played handbells with her church choirs.

Phyllis was very active in her children’s school and after-school events, seemingly never missing an event although many overlapped. In 1964, she and Jim (and many of their dear friends to this day) were founding members of Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Lantana, FL and were very active in outreach ministries such as St. Vincent de Paul. She was a daily communicant to the week of her death. They were active leaders in the Charismatic Renewal as well as prayer groups and retreats at the Cenacle Retreat House in Lantana. For many decades, Phyllis was also a mentor to those with eating disorders.

Jim (retired general contractor) and Phyllis expanded their love for assisting others by founding the Habitat for Humanity of Palm Beach County affiliate in 1986. They loved seeing families get a head-start on home ownership and financial independence.

Phyllis is preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Rosemary Brandt and Aunt Selma Kress. She is survived by her loving husband of 62 years, James, and seven children/seventeen grandchildren: Rosemary “Mimi” and husband Gary Graser of Austin, TX; Jamie and Dale Easley (Ananda, Tessie) of Dubuque, IA; Terri and Mark Tanski (Tom, Mark, Samantha, Emily) of Arcadia, MI; Susan and Thomas “TK” Krupa (Nick/wife Kat, Jake) of Atlantis, FL; Robert (Anthony, Brandon/wife Jordan, Ryan, Danielle, Hunter) of Jacksonville, FL; Joseph and Christine (Jack, Charlie) of Orlando FL; and Becky and Tom Montague (Zachary, Nathan) of Marietta, GA. She is also survived by ten great-grandchildren: Colton, Summer, Hailey, Braylen, Brently, Juliette, Giovanni, Armani, Isabella, and Gage.

A funeral Mass and celebration of life will be held in Lantana, FL at Holy Spirit Catholic Church on Saturday, November 6, 2021, at 10am.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Habitat for Humanity of Palm Beach County, www.habitatpbc.org or the St. Vincent de Paul ministry of Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Lantana, FL, holyspiritlantana.com.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.dorsey-smithmemorygardens.com for the Bramuchi family.