Phyllis "Fifi" Deguzis Jennings

Phyllis, known to most as Fifi, was born in Southington Connecticut on May 15, 1932. She was the daughter of the late Horace Secondo and Edna Della Porta Secondo who owned the Popular Restaurant in Southington. She attended Quinnipiac University, then known as Larson College, in the Secretarial Program. She worked as an Administrative Assistant to company presidents and vice presidents including Otis Elevator from which she retired. She could never get on an elevator without checking to see who built it. She deeply loved her family, was happiest when cooking for them. She made the best tomato sauce and meatballs and always had the pot of sauce ready for company. Fifi always had a smile for friends and strangers alike. She cared about the people around her, whether family, neighbors, friends and coworkers and she stayed in touch with friends from her school days and former coworkers.

Fifi was funny, usually because of silly things she did, like sitting in someone's lap in a dark movie theater but she'd just laugh about it after being horrified for the duration of the movie. At every stage of life, she loved her life and was a great example of aging gracefully to her family. She was the best daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, grandmother and great grandmother that anyone could want. She loved us all deeply and was our biggest fan and supporter, encouraging us always.

She was a member of All Saints Catholic Church in Hampstead and was on their prayer chain for years, offering prayers for those who requested them, in Southington, she was a member of Immaculate Conception and served as a Eucharistic Minister. She loved bowling with her husband Jimmie Jennings who preceded her in death in March of this year. She was also preceded in death by her first husband Edward F. Deguzis in 1992 and her step-son, Gary Ray Jennings in 2021.

She is survived by her daughter Barbara Deguzis, her son Edward J. Deguzis and his wife Meg, her grandchildren Ryan Deguzis and wife, Emily, Taylor Deguzis Vincenzo and husband James Vincenzo and their boys James and Jack, and Andrew Deguzis and his partner Jennifer Canapetti, Layla Jennings Carrasquillo, her husband Eli and their son Camren.

Fifi also leaves behind her brothers, Dick Secondo and wife Bernie, Arthur Secondo and wife Marie, their adult children and grandchildren.

Her Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, August 21, 2023 11 a.m. at the Immaculate Conception Church, 130 Summer St. Plantsville. Burial will follow in Immaculate Conception Cemetery, Southington. Calling hours will be prior to the service starting at 9 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. at DellaVecchia Funeral Home, 211 N. Main St. Southington.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Wounded Warriors Family Support, wwfs.org, 11218 John Galt Boulevard, Suite 103 Omaha, NE 68137 or K9s For Warriors, K9sforWarriors.org, 114 Camp K9 Road, Ponte Vedra, FL, 32081, First Nations Development Institute, FirstNations.org, 2432 Main St 2nd Floor, Longmont, CO 80501