Miss you Phyllis . 
All my love,

Mick xxx

Mrs. Brugnolotti hired me as a work study employee in the upper school library at Collegiate when I was a freshman at Columbia, and I worked part-time for her there until I graduated.  I just learned that she passed and am posting this note as my tribute to her.  I am so grateful to have known Mrs.  Brugnolotti, partly because I valued and learned from her smart, no-nonsense personality and her sharp sense of humor, and partly because she treated me so kindly.  I did not dress up for work as I should have, partly because I didn't own a jacket or a tie, but she never made me feel bad for it.  She made sure I got free meals at the school cafeteria.  She used her sense of humor freely, she was generous with compliments, and she made work fun by sharing stories about the school and its personalities.  At that time in my life, I felt like a nobody and a fish out of water.  Mrs. Brugnolotti made me feel like I mattered.  I am so grateful for her kindness, and I miss her.

Phillis was my Aunt. She had  two sisters. Joan, and Monica. Monica was my mother. Phyllis  attended Cambridge University in England, If I remember right, she received a masters degree, But I can't remember what her major studies where. Most likely history.  I live in California and didn't get out to visit as much as I wanted too.  On one visit to California I took her to the J Paul Getty museum of art. She was so well educated in art, it was amazing to listen to her speak about each painting. Always reading and studying were her hobbies. Fortunately I spent a week with her in her apartment before she went to nursing care last year. We had a great visit and memories that  I will always cherish. My mother died when I was really young. Phyllis, and Joan were like surrogate parents to me. I could always call them for advise and opinion on matters. Phyllis would be blunt and brutally honest! I admired that! Told the truth.  I love them both with all my heart. They will be greatly missed. I love you Phillis, God Bless. 

Photo From the Courtesy of John Fitzsimons. 

These Photos are  Courtesy of John Fitzsimons. 

Just a note of sympathy  as l remember one  great character and how we always enjoyed her company weather at home in Ireland or her adopted New York...sad to have to bid farewell to the last of Aunt Beths offspring.

Phyllis rest in peace.

Paul Nolan

My Dear Phyllis, you will be so missed. You have been an integral and cherished adopted family member for so many years--I can barely remember before you and JP met in Ireland and we began to spend holidays, graduations, and so much more together. Our lives are so much richer because of you, dear Phyllis. Your impeccable taste, love of good food and wine, deep knowledge of literature, music, and so much more. I learned so much, have so many precious memories, and you will forever be in my heart.

Phyllis was indeed a friend to many, and I am just one of those many. Phyllis befriended me and some friends when I began attending Corpus Christi parish in Manhattan and was a treasured friend almost immediately, instantly concerned, conspiratorial in fun ways, with a light touch when it came to personal conversations and a gift for socializing, wearing her learning lightly and always eager for a song. I saw her infrequently after I moved to London then Toronto, but at a minimum we exchanged cards with notes at Christmas and she was instantly there with me when I read those cards. The last received had a quote of Yeats--so like her. Wonderful to see so many sides of Phyllis, thanks to the family for sharing those photos. My heart broke a little at the thought of this world without Phyllis in it. I'll say goodbye from a distance to my friend on Monday along with all of you. My condolences to all the loving family and friends. She was a treasure and she will be missed. 

Many fond memories of our American cousin’s ’ visit to the home country , always full of colour and enthusiasm for the coming and goings of the wider and extended family connections. Safe traveling and never forgotten. Little Leo 

Too many wonderful memories of dear Phyllis to list here; but I shall never forget her loyal friendship, her sharp wit, her endless curiosity, her big heart.  Phyllis was like a family member to me.

One of the loveliest people I have ever known. 

I met her when I was 16 or 17 and little did I know that my high school librarian would become my lifelong mentor...and friend. She taught more than I can express, and my entire professional life (I was a librarian!) was because of her support, encouragement, and faith in me.  She was also one of the smartest and funniest people I ever met, and lunch with her (always at a glamorous restaurant of her choosing) was always the highlight on any trip back "home" to NYC. 

It breaks my heart that I cannot be in New York on Monday to say good-bye to her.  She was one of a kind!

Phyllis was my aunt and although I only knew her for around 23 years we developed a bond that will last far beyond our tenure on this earth.

My birth mother was her late sister, Joan, but due to complicated family and social dynamics, Phyllis was the sister I grew to know and we both cherished our special relationship.

We hit it off from the word 'go' and I loved listening to her stories about growing up in Ballylinan, her career as a nun, a teacher and a librarian, and her life with Rudy and her New York friends.

When a child is adopted, as I was, he or she craves for some of the gaps in the jigsaw to be filled and Phyllis more than completed the puzzle  for me.  

I feel as if I knew Joan and Monica, her two beloved sisters, her mother Elizabeth (Priscilla') and her father Andrew, not to mention her many aunts & uncles, cousins, grandparents, nephews, nieces and so on.

I will miss her terribly but I'm so grateful for having had the privilege of knowing and loving her for the past 20 or so years.

She was the most well-read person I'd ever met and yet she never wore her education on her sleeve - her intelligence was sharp, focused and concise.

When we first corresponded, after I had written an introductory letter to Joan (which was quickly passed onto Phyllis!) we got to know each other fairly quickly and she visited my home on a few occasions and I stayed with her in New York many times.

Our fist few letters were nervy and tentative but at the end of her second letter to me she wrote ..'I've just thought...I have a new nephew'.   

After that, it was plain sailing.

Thanks for being an unbelievable aunt, Phyllis. 

I learnt so much from you as did so many other people who knew and loved you.

Let's hope we all carry a bit of what made Phyllis so special for the rest of our lives.

Thank you dearly for introducing me to the extended Towey clan and your many friends - the jigsaw is complete now.

Phyllis 
I am just so sad. We had wonderful Memories of you coming to Ireland to spend Summer Holiday with us. 
I want to thank you for all the great memories, we had together.
R.I.P Phyllis . Love Maeve and Mary Brophy Ireland

To my beautiful aunt - You took Paul and I under your wing when your sister Monica died when we were very small children.  You have been like a mother to me and I will treasure all the special times we spent together through the years. You were always there for me to share every special occasion in my life and memories of our past holidays together and adventures to art museums will always be cherished.  I thank god for everything we shared but mostly for your love. Love, your niece, Claire

Dear Phyllis
I'm very saddened by this news but glad to hear you safe from suffering now. You were my godmother in New York and kept me in touch with family. You were a learned, kind, interesting and life loving person. I loved visiting you up in the clouds on the Upper East Side which would give me a much needed  boost! Fond memories of quaffing fine wine and scoffing down capon on Christmas Day whilst discussing poetry and plays, family and life..you also got me some work experience in a school which was a nudge in the right direction..You were good to me when I wasn't being very GOOD to myself and it was good to keep up contact after even if not often enuf..my Regards to your lovely sister whom I visited once with you and all your lovely theatre friends from NYC  and Maggie from the school and all who were so kind ..may the angels have a martini waiting for you..xx

Rest in Peace, Phyllis.  Thank you for all the joy and love you brought into our lives and, whilst we will miss you, we will never forget you. Our world is so much poorer for your passing, but thank you for the great memories.  

"Home is the sailor, home from the sea".

Vincent Nolan

'Thank you for the days, those endless days, those sacred days you gave me'. 

Rest in Peace Phyllis - June Brophy

Sorry to have learned of the passing of Phyllis(Cousin of my late mother Eve). I have fond memories of Phyll's summer visits to the ''Emerald Isle'' and in particular to her visits to Naas.  She loved family and brought great cheer to us all when she came home.
May she be reunited with all our dearly departed family members.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam.
John & Gemma Fitzsimons

To my dear Aunt, I will treasure your memory forever, so grateful to have known and spent time with you.  

Solas Mhic De ar a n-anam.

Deepest sympathy on the very sad passing of a wonderful cousin, Phyllis. R.I.P Phyllis, from all of your cousins here in Ireland. 

OBITUARY

Phyllis Brugnolotti

September 15, 1928 – July 10, 2022

Chas. Peter Nagel Funeral Directors

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