Phyllis M. Morelli

Southington-Phyllis M Morelli, 75, passed quietly early Thursday morning. She was born Oct. 3, 1935 in Fort Wayne, IN the daughter of Florence Byers. She was the loving wife of James E Morelli of Southington. She was raised in Ft Wayne with the assistance of her Aunt Melinda Behrman. Phyllis began her career as the Assistant to the Purchasing Agent of Falstaff Brewing, was Secretary for the Research and Development Department at United Technologies / Pratt and Whitney, and served as Executive Director of the Southington Association of Retarded Citizens (SARC) for many years. She was a pioneer in the movement of special education and freedom for the handicapped. She worked tirelessly to enact legislation on the state and national level to provide public education for special needs children. During her tenure as Executive Director at SARC the town of Southington funded the services of SARC until a local program could be established in the public school system. Phyllis Morelli wrote the first grant for a Group Home in Southington and gave countless hours of her time championing independent living opportunities for the handicapped. She founded HUG (Help Us Grow) an organization that fostered mingling within the town, bringing handicapped citizens to the community, so as to raise awareness to get them out of state run institutions. Prior to her retirement she was the secretary for the Chief of The Southington Fire Department a job that she was extremely proud to hold and thoroughly enjoyed.

Phyllis was an avid bowler and card player. She was a proud member of the ?Banner Girls? and later ?Super Girls? teams that bowled at Banner Bowl on Thursday nights. She remained close to all her teammates who are true friends. Phyllis was an accomplished bowler and in 1990 received a President?s Award from The Greater Hartford W.B.A for a high game of 290. Just one of her countless accomplishments. She was a fantastic card player and leaves a dedicated group of card playing friends and a full coffee can of her spoils. She was past Chairwoman of the Southington Republican Women?s Club and was an active volunteer for her church The Zion Lutheran Church, Phyllis was a diehard UCONN women?s basketball fan and will be watching them from above.

In addition to her devoted husband James E. Morelli, she leaves her sons James E Morelli Jr. and his wife Ceil, Stephen C Morelli and his wife Melanie, and daughter Beth Ann Landino and her husband Phil. Her grandchildren James Morelli III (JT), Charlie Morelli, Jessica Morelli, Hailey Morelli, Stevie Morelli, Erica Landino, Emily Landino, Heather Landino, Her Cousins Larry and Cindy Byers of Arizona and Roger and Linda Byers of FT Wayne IN, her nieces Kelley Beasley and Lori Howard also of Fort Wayne Indiana, Maria Ruzich of Atlanta, GA, Ann Marie Conaty, Roberta Knogel, and Patricia Hackett, all of Southington and her nephew Robert Morelli of Los Angeles, CA. She was predeceased by her brother Charles Byers and her loving son Jeffrey A Morelli.

The Morelli family would like to thank the donor who provided her with a heart to enable her additional quality years of life and service to her family and friends. This was the ultimate gift. We would also like to acknowledge the wonderful professionals at the Yale New Haven Hospital Transplant Group including Dr.?s Lee, Elefteriades, Scheonfeld and Widman. In addition the fabulous staff at Hartford Hospital Harry Grey Cancer Center and the entire Hartford Hospital staff. All of these people provided the utmost of professional service to Phyllis and her family. Words cannot explain the gratitude that we have for Dr. Bogdansky and Dr. Kamradt and their staffs for assisting Phyllis through this difficult time in her life. Her family is forever grateful.

Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday(June 1st) at 9:15 a.m. from the DellaVecchia Funeral home to Zion Lutheran Church, 531 Woodruff St. at 10 a.m. Wednesday (June 2nd). Burial will be at St Thomas Cemetery. Friends may meet the family on Tuesday ( May 31st) at the DellaVecchia Funeral Home, 211 N Main St. Southington from 5 pm to 8 pm.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations be made in her name to Kuhn Employment Opportunities 1630 North Colony Rd. Meriden, CT 06450 or ARC of Southington Recreation Program 201 West Main St. Plantsville CT 06479. For Online condolences and directions visit www.dellavecchiafh.com