Phyllis Marie Palkovic

While Phyllis was a child of the Great Depression, she had only fond memories of her childhood years. She attended Garfield Heights High School, where she excelled in basketball. Phyllis would often show proof of her basketball prowess by throwing up a few old-school two-handed chest shots in the back yard with her kids, or proudly showing off her permanently crooked little finger.

After high school Phyllis attended Fenn College in Cleveland and went to work for GM Financial Services. She enjoyed spending time with her friends, but most of all she loved to dance. Phil did a lot of dating, but she couldn’t find Mr. Right until her cousin Lou Jermann set her up with his buddy Ed, who also liked to dance. Ed Palkovic swept Phyllis off her feet and in 1957 they were married.

Not long after, their first son, Paul, was born and two years later daughter Lisa came. While Phyllis liked Cleveland, her sister Gene loved California. Gene and Ray Duff had recently moved to California and with a little persuasion, Phyllis and Ed packed the kids up in their 1956 Chevy Bel Air and drove west on Old Route 66 to the San Fernando Valley; landing not far from Gene and Ray.

Soon after arriving in California, sons Rick and Keith were born, and Phyllis settled into the role she was born to play - a full time mom. Phyllis, Ed and their growing family spent many weekends at the Duff’s ranch style home in Granada Hills – which was then end of the world back in those days. Strong friendships were formed between the Palkovic and Duff kids and great memories were made.

When their son Brent came along Phyllis and family were living in a three-bedroom home in Van Nuys. It was time to buy up to a bigger place. They found their dream home in Woodland Hills, and for the rest of her life Phyllis called 5941 Maury Ave., “My California home.” Shortly after moving in, daughter Janine was born and the Palkovic family was complete.

For the next 15 years, Phyllis and Ed nurtured and raised their family together. They became active members of Saint Bernardine of Sienna Church, which was walking distance from home. In the early-eighties Phyllis went back to work as a student financial aid coordinator at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, where she stayed until she retired in 1992. For the next 10 years she and Ed enjoyed their Golden Years by taking lots of trips with family and friends and hosting Pinochle nights at their house.

A total of seven grandchildren were born and life was good until 2002, when Janine was diagnosed with cancer. Unbelievably, Ed was also stricken with cancer only a few months later and after waging heroic battles, both passed away in 2004 within a month of each other. While Phyllis’ heart was broken, her spirit and will to enjoy the rest of her life was indominable.

Phyllis spent the next 14 years living life to its fullest. She traveled, lobbied L A City Council for a Senior Citizens Center in her neighborhood, played cards, made dozens of new friends and gardened in her beloved yard until her passing on October 24, 2018.