Phyllis Monte Soupios passed over on February 10, 2020, a week shy of her 96th birthday. Born in Wilkes Barre, Pa., her mother was Frances Stoker and her father was Thomas Mont, a coalminer. As a small child, Phyllis moved to Manhattan where she recalled her family moved often just to get one months’ free rent during the Great Depression.
Phyllis was a talented and creative soul. During WW II, while working at The Guardian Life Insurance Co. in New York, she Illustrated their wartime magazine with clever cartoons. Her nickname then was ‘Sunny’.
While a consummate homemaker, she worked several years in a family business. She also worked as a secretary, in an emergency room, and in a library.
Always health conscious, Phyllis was a devoted follower of the pioneering nutritionist Dr. Carlton Fredericks going back almost sixty years. She enthusiastically passed his dietary wisdom on to her family. And loved baking wholesome bread.
An accomplished decorative and folk-art painter, Phyllis’ brushwork found its way onto many a suitable surface. She was a pianist, seamstress, wordsmith and lover of books. A crafts person who made dollhouse furniture, she also restored and loved antiques.
Phyllis had a great sense of humor. As witty as she was beautiful, she was a font of informational tidbits. She loved travelling. At 78 , while in Florence, Italy, she scaled all 463 steps of the Duomo with ease. An Anglophile, Phyllis was passionate about all things Bronte . Wanting always to learn, her curiosity led her to be self-taught in many things.
Ahead of her time, Phyllis had an early, life-long habit of recycling. Her motto: Waste Not. Restoring street finds into treasured heirlooms was another hobby. She always had creative ways to repurpose.
She is predeceased by a brother and three older sisters, all of whom she adored. And by her handsome, devoted and loving husband of 62 years, Harry V. Soupios, whose affectionate name for her in Greek was ‘Phyllitsa’.
Phyllis was a loving mother of three daughters: Stephanie Rocker, Melanie Lester and Meredith Soupios. She was an affectionate and fun-loving Nani to Tara Yokos, Ethan Rocker, Samantha Rocker, Justin Siemens and Jared Siemens. And the exceptionally lucky great grandmother of Siena and Callista Yokos, who made her laugh and smile. She was also a perfect mother-in-law to Steven H. Rocker M. D., Alan Siemens and Mark Lester.
Besides Manhattan, Phyllis lived in Brooklynn, and Syracuse, N.Y. She also resided in Clifton, N.J., Tappan N.Y., South Amenia, NY. and Ossining, N.Y.
You certainly made your mark, Nani. You are loved. And missed.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
v.1.9.5