Published August 23, 2019
MELROSE — Phyllis (Lanzilli) Catalogna, 98, passed away at Windsor Place in Wilmington on August 10, 2019.
She was born in East Boston on July 4, 1921 to the late Peter and Josephine (Ciabburi) Lanzilli. Phyllis was raised in Somerville and graduated from Somerville High School, Class of 1938. Prior to her marriage to Vincent, Phyllis worked in the payroll department at Filenes and knew Mr. Filenes personally.
She lived in Somerville for many years and then all over the country in California, Florida, North Carolina, Washington, D.C. and several other states due to her husband’s job with the Department of Defense. After raising her children, Phyllis worked as a bookkeeper for a local nursing home and a local plumbing business.
Mrs. Catalogna and her late husband Vincent loved to travel all over Europe, Italy and taking extended cruises all over the Mediterranean. She was a great cook and had a wonderful sense of humor.
Phyllis was the beloved wife of the late Vincent A. Catalogna. Loving mother of John Catalogna and his wife Claire of Reading, Paul Catalogna and his wife Elaine of Melrose and Mark Catalogna and his wife Susan of Rockport. Caring sister of the late Gilda Perrone, Basilio Lanzilli and Rose Lanzilli. Also survived by seven grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation was held at the Gately Funeral Home, 79 W. Foster St. Melrose, on Monday, August 19, followed by a funeral service at the Gately Funeral Home. Interment at Oak Grove Cemetery in Medford. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Phyllis’s name to Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 220 N. Main St. #104, Natick, MA 01760 or to Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress, 20 Burlington Mall Rd. # 261, Burlington, MA 01803 or Breast Cancer Awareness, Susan G. Komen Fund New England, 2000 Commonwealth Avenue Suite 205, Auburndale, MA 02466. To send a message of condolence please visit www.gatelyfh.com.
