Phyllis Leona Anderson

She was born and raised into a big Italian family, (Leone/Saltarelli/Macro) in the Chicago suburb of Melrose Park, ILL. She met the love of her life, Russell Anderson on a train going to work in the city. They married on Nov. 3,1956. In 1964 they moved to Santa Clara. They had 3 children: Rick, Cindy, and Guy.

Phyllis started out as a housewife and then went to work at the nearby K-Mart. She eventually worked herself up to a bookkeeper. From there she went to H&R Block where she worked as a bookkeeper until she retired.

She was the rock of the family, always putting her family's needs above her own. As she got older, especially when she became a widow, her own needs took front and center, something she fought against until the very end.

Her greatest joy was the time she spent with her grandchildren; being a grandmother was the role she treasured most of all. Besides a wife, mother, and grandmother, she was also a friend. Unlike her husband who was very friendly and out going, Phyllis was more on the quiet and reserved side. Nevertheless, her friends were very important to her and gave her a lot of happiness.

She will be dearly missed but, her children: Rick, Cindy ( Allen), Guy, (special needs) and her grandchildren Jody, Jill, and Cory find comfort in knowing she was more than ready to join her loved ones in Heaven.

There will be no services. In remembrance of Phyllis, her family would like you to buy a California Lottery Scratcher, it was her favorite indulgence, always hoping it was going to be the big one! Good luck! However, if that's not your thing please feel free to make a donation to her favorite charity, Special Olympics.