Phyllis Camelio

She was born on September 13, 1941 in Boston, MA to Lillian and John Oates. She grew up in Somerville, MA in the same house her grandmother and mother had lived in. She graduated from Salem State Teachers College and earned her Masters of Education from Springfield College in western Massachusetts.

Phyllis met the love of her life, Cosmo “Cos” Camelio, while in high school. They dated for seven years and then married in 1965.

Phyllis taught early elementary level classes at the local schools in East Longmeadow, MA until 1970 when her son, Craig was born. From that point, she dedicated herself to being a fulltime mother at home.

From East Longmeadow, they moved to southern New Hampshire in 1975 and then to North Little Rock, Arkansas in 1976 where their daughter, Christie, was born. In Arkansas, Phyllis made several lifelong friends and was extremely active in the public schools PTA organizations.

In 1983 the family relocated to Acton, MA which had the benefit of bringing them all closer to their extended family. Phyllis continued to be active in the local community and saw both her children off to college.

In 1997, she and Cos moved to the North Raleigh area and established themselves as strong and active members of the community. After Cos passed in 2008, Phyllis remained active in her neighborhood’s many groups including wine club, bridge club and book club. One of her greatest joys was being able to spend a year in New York caring for her infant granddaughter Bree.

She is preceded in death by her parents and her husband Cos.

She is survived by her son Craig R. Camelio; her daughter Christie A. Bertoline; her daughter-in-law Malgosia Kwiatkowska; her son-in-law Christopher N. Bertoline; her granddaughter Bree A. Bertoline; her sister Nancy Litch; and several nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held Saturday, August 18th, from 3pm-6pm at Mitchell Funeral Home at 7209 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh, NC. Services will be held Sunday at noon, also at the Mitchell Funeral Home followed by a commitment ceremony at Raleigh Memorial Park at 7501 Glenwood Avenue.

Arrangements are being coordinated by the Mitchell Funeral Home 919-783-7128.