Carmela Lopreste Phillips

Carmela Lopreste Phillips, of Middleburg, Florida, having lived a vibrant, caring, and tender-hearted life of 93 years, passed away on Sunday, April 10, 2022. Carm was born December 3, 1928 in Buffalo, New York, to Alexander and Theresa Lopreste.

To everyone who knew and loved her, Carm was a fun-loving, generous, and devoted friend, daughter, wife, sister, sister-in-law, aunt, and great aunt, whose smile was always at the ready and whose heart and hands were always prepared to be of service to others. In her younger years she was an avid bowler and golfer who took great joy in driving her white Mercury convertible and feeling the wind in her hair. In later years she was just as proud of her well kept home and her doll collection.

Carm earned her Associate degree in business at Jamestown Community College—the first in her family to achieve a higher education--and was employed as a bookkeeper for Welch’s, in Westfield, New York, and later at a limestone company in Vernon, New Jersey. She played piano and served as a Sunday School teacher for the Assembly of God Church in Westfield, and loved bringing people together by organizing company picnics and get-togethers.

After moving to Middleburg, Carm became active in Stonecroft Ministries, serving as treasurer. She also joined the YMCA and became part of a knitting circle that provided baby blankets for the children of service members.

Especially noteworthy and indicative of her loving character was Carm’s devotion to her husband, Bob, especially during his final illness, and her extraordinary care of and devotion to her mother, Theresa, in her final years. Unable to part with a garden bridge that Bob had made for her in New Jersey, she moved it with her from there to Middleburg to honor him and as a token of their marriage.

Mrs. Phillips is survived by her brother, Gene Lopreste (Ernie), nieces and nephews: Mark Wethli (Cassie), Sharon Kerr, Kristine Wethli, and Matthew Lopreste, grandnieces Erika, Kristin, and Wren Wethli, and grandnephew, Reed Wethli, sister-in-law Mickey Wethli and cousins John Catania (Naomi), Nancy Chiaro (Paul), Martha Kelley, Carman Trimboli, Florence Thate (Richard), RoseMary Trimboli, Edith Brewer, and Jim Sanderson.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Robert L. Phillips, and sister, Marie Wethli.

In her final years, Carm’s family of friends grew to include her extraordinary healthcare providers, Margaret Banting, Myrna Avaritt, Jean Manning, Judy Loewen, Gail Wellhausen, Linda Stephans, Ellen Grace, and Sarah Fogarty, who addressed her as “Mama” and for whom her family is so deeply grateful.

A memorial service for Carmela will be held 4 PM, Saturday, May 7, 2022 at True Life Church, 2221 County Rd 220, Middleburg, FL 32068. She was laid to rest next to her husband in Sunset Hill Cemetery, Lakewood, New York.

Arrangements by HARDAGE-GIDDENS HOLLY HILL FUNERAL HOME, 3601 Old Jennings Road, Middleburg, FL. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hollyhillfunerals.com.