Phyllis (Zerilli) Mooradian, of Livonia, passed away Monday, Nov. 11, 2019, at home with family and friends present. She was 95. A devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, she was born to Sicilian immigrants in Detroit, MI. on June 11,1924 and raised on the city’s East Side.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 75 years, Popkin Robert “Bob” Mooradian, who passed away at 96 in August 2018. The couple were longtime residents of Livonia. The couple met in 1942 at Eastwood Gardens, a Detroit dance club. They married on Dec. 16, 1942 before Robert entered the U.S. Navy. Following the war, the couple moved to Livonia, where they raised their four children.
Phyllis was known as a gracious host and for her generosity. While living on Clements Circle in the southeast corner of Livonia, she helped organize neighborhood social groups, a walking club and was active in school PTAs while raising four children. She loved to dance and other hobbies included painting and ceramics.
The couple moved to Lancashire Ct., in Livonia, where water aerobics classes were held in the family pool. Their home was the scene of many family and neighborhood festivities. Phyllis enjoyed gatherings both large and small. Phyllis and Bob were parishioners at St. Collette’s Roman Catholic Church in Livonia.
Survivors include four children, Paul (Pamela) Mooradian of Bloomfield Hills, MI., Don (Kathleen) Mooradian of Nashville, TN., Robert (Mary Ann) Mooradian of Mt. Pleasant, MI. and Barbara Ann Mooradian of Troy, MI.; a sister, Catherine Doyle of Sterling Heights, MI., Phillip Zerilli of St. Clair Shores, MI. Phyllis was preceded in death by half-sister Josephine Ventimiglia and half-brother Tony Palazollo, sister Francis Toco and brother Joseph Zerilli, both of Roseville, MI., also six grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews including special nephew James Mooradian of Livonia.
Services will be held Saturday, Nov. 16 at Will Funeral Home, 37000 Six Mile Rd., Livonia, 48152 with visitation at 11 a.m. and a service at 11:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to the American Heart Association.
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