1931. She grew up in the South Williamsburg section of Brooklyn during the depression years. At age
17, she lost her father to cancer and assumed more of the family responsibilities. Two years later she
met Joseph G. Butera and fell into a love that would last 56 years.
The couple moved to Saint Brigid’s parish in Ridgewood, New York, and started their family with
Philip, then Rosanne and finally Joseph. Philomena, usually called Phyllis, loved her children and always
made sure they studied hard, did their homework and learned the essentials of respect and courtesy.
During the school day, she volunteered to work at Saint Brigid’s rectory working closely with Monsignor
James Kelly who, to this day, still resides at the rectory. Whether working on the annual school fundraising
festivals and bazaars, parish socials or parent teachers events, mom and pop were always
involved in the parish community.
Later, when the last child went to high school, she began a new career as executive secretary to
the plant manager at Pfizer’s Brooklyn pharmaceutical plant. As such, she coordinated multiple local
and citywide charity events sponsored or supported by the plant. She was honored for this work and
received the “Secretary of the Year” award from the American Lung Association. Next, not to be out
done by her children, she went back to night school and obtained her BA degree from Brooklyn College.
By then, her children had started their career paths and so mom and pop planned for their new
life of retirement. They visited multiple sites but they fell in love with Pensacola, Florida. Life in
Pensacola was good to them and they eagerly participated in the Italian Club, the Senior Citizens Club
and their neighborhood parish. They hosted many old friends from their hometown and made many
new ones.
Then, in the early 2000s, her beloved husband began suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and
mom once again assumed the role of primary caregiver. With the assistance of Seniors Helping Seniors,
she cared for her husband for 5 years in their home until his death in 2007. That is when she discovered
Azalea Trace. One tour and luncheon convinced her that this is where she could reinvent her life yet
again. Here, in this vital community, mom participated in everything: learning bridge, playing Mahjongg
and bingo, going to the theater and opera at Pensacola Junior College and participating in those
notorious bus trips to Biloxi! Always a people’s person, she enrolled a record number of participants in
Azalea Trace’s FICRA program. She made many close friendships during her time there. It was even said
that her son had to call 2 weeks in advance for an open time to come and visit for lunch. Life was rich
and full of comraderie and joy but fate intervened once again and during the pandemic lockdown, her
health failed. Shortly after her 89th birthday, she transferred to Willowbrooke Court nursing facility
where she received excellent comfort care. On the morning of June first, after receiving her final
blessing, she passed peacefully during the night to rejoin her Lord and Maker. She will be dearly missed
by her family and friends.
A funeral mass will be held on Saturday, June 6, at the Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church at 12
o’clock followed by internment at Bayview Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that
donations be made to the Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church, the St. Vincent DePaul Society, the
Azalea Trace Heritage Fund or any other charity of your choice.
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