Phyllis Rose Beck

Phyllis was born on October 28th, 1938, the firstborn child of Florence and Nick Paniccia in Michigan City, Indiana. She attended Elston High School and was in the graduating class of 1957.

Phyllis developed her love for music and the arts in high school and made lifelong friends there. She was active as a violinist in the orchestra and was a frequent player in theater productions. She was always enthusiastic to reunite with her high school classmates at reunions.

Later in life, she continued to pursue her artistic interests in community activities. She loved to sing and for a time was the lead singer with a “Sweet Adelines” amateur choral group. She was active in community theatre. For many years she led the Michiana Opera Guild. She brought her artistic eye and love of cooking and décor to working with the girls in her troop as a leader in Girl Scouting for years, and to her credit, she also gamely participated in camping and hiking activities.

For the last four decades, Phyllis was an active and highly visible presence in the Indianapolis community. Alongside her husband Dennis, she built, owned, and operated Beck Toyota for 39 years. She was a member of St. Barnabas Catholic Church, a legacy patron of the Indianapolis Symphony orchestra, a supporter of the Indianapolis Colts and the Indiana Pacers, as well as being a leader in the larger automotive sales industry.

At home, she loved flowers and treasured her English country garden. She took great joy in hosting lavish meals and holiday dinners, tea parties, pool parties, picnics and a host of other events with family and friends. As her loving husband described his life with her, “every meal was a banquet, every day was a holiday.” Her beautifully decorated home was a testament to her creativity and her desire to provide a special place for her family to gather.

Phyllis was passionate about her family and she delighted in her grandchildren. Her life was devoted to taking care of others. She made everyone around her smile with her stories and her laughter.

She and her beloved husband Dennis traveled the world sharing many adventures, always doing it in style. She was a beautiful woman both inside and out and always fashionable.

Our family and community have lost a precious jewel in Phyllis, and we are grateful for the incredible legacy of love and service that she has left for us.

She is survived by her loving husband Dennis J. Beck, Sr, her brother Michael Paniccia (Jean) of South Bend, Indiana, her sister Margaret Robertson of Michigan City, Indiana, daughters Victoria McCoy and Alecia Mullen (James) of Indianapolis, Indiana, son Dr. Dennis J. Beck, Jr. (Dianna) of Newburgh, Indiana, and by six grandchildren: Christopher Speckman (Elisabeth) of Indianapolis, Hannah Ruyack (Benjamin) of Alcoa, TN, Riley Mullen and Sasha Mullen of Indianapolis, Morgan Beck of Newburgh, Indiana and Sydney Beck of Eugene, Oregon, as well as by her six great grandchildren.

Visitation will be held at the Little and Sons Funeral Home at 4901 East Stop 11 Road, Indianapolis, IN 46237, from 4 to 8pm on Friday February 21, 2025. A memorial mass will be held Saturday, February 22, 2025, at 1:00 pm in St. Barnabas Catholic Church at 8300 Rahke Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46217.

Please join as we celebrate Phyllis's life using the link below:

https://vimeo.com/event/4928445