Phyllis M. Calarese

Mrs. Phyllis (Padula) Calarese of St. Louis, MO formerly of Windsor, CT passed away on Wednesday, November 18, 2009 in St. John's Mercy Medical Center in St. Louis, Missouri. She was 88. Phyllis was born on March 21, 1921, a daughter of the late Carmino and Carmela (Liuzzi) Padula. She was a resident of Windsor, Connecticut for five years and most recently lived in St. Louis, Missouri. Phyllis was born in Italy and immigrated to the United States through Ellis Island when she was six years old. She graduated from Boston College where she earned her Master's Degree in Education. Phyllis was an elementary school teacher for many years. She loved to sew, cook traditional Italian foods, and her summer home on Cape Cod. Phyllis had a wonderful sense of humor and a zest for life who loved to spoil her daughters and seven grandchildren. She will be dearly missed. Phyllis was the loving wife of the late William Calarese and the sister of the late Patrick Padula and Lenore Padula. She is survived by her beloved daughters Theresa Baker and her husband, Kenneth, of Stillwater, OK, Carolyn Golbabai and her husband, Mehran, of Windsor, CT and Patricia Calarese and her husband, Markus Cicka, of St. Louis, MO; her brother, George Padula and his wife, Helene, of Milton; seven grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Family and friends will honor and remember Phyllis' life by gathering for calling hours at The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street, (Rte. 20), Waltham on Sunday from 2-5 pm and again on Monday at 9:30 am before leaving in procession to Saint Luke's Church, 132 Lexington Street, Belmont where her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 am. Burial will follow in Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge. Memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association, 5 Brookside Drive, Wallingford, CT 06492.