Phyllis I. O’Leary, cherished her family

Phyllis I. O’Leary, 100, of Rehoboth Beach, passed away Wednesday, May 10, 2023, at Brandywine Senior Living in Rehoboth Beach. She was born March 9, 1923, in Westfield, Mass., daughter of the late Belizario and Isabella Garrido Gonzalez.

Phyllis grew up in Mine Hill, N.J., and attended Dover High School. She worked at Picatinny Arsenal during WWII filling artillery shells, and remained a factory line worker at Howmet Corp., making jet engine parts for all of her career. She dedicated over 35 years to this position, from which she retired. She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Wharton, N.J., and Moose Lodge 541. Phyllis was always fun-loving, and she enjoyed playing bingo, taking walks and traveling after retirement. She raised a very close family, and they are whom she held most dear. The time spent with them is what she cherished above all. Phyllis was a loving and devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. She will be deeply and genuinely missed by all who knew her.

In addition to her parents, Phyllis was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 57 years, John O’Leary Sr.; her son, John O’Leary Jr.; her stepfather, Leon Fal Gonzalez; and her brothers, Manuel Gonzalez and Julius Gonzalez. She is survived by her children, Denise Poslusny (Chet), Kevin O’Leary (Lisa) and Kelly Ann Watson (Rick); her daughter-in-law, Angela O’Leary; her grandchildren, Meghan Shipman, Michael Poslusny, Jaime O’Leary, Jessica DeCubellis, Kerry Ann O’Leary, Mackenzie Watson and Nicholas Watson; and her great-grandchildren, Joshua, Emma and Ashlynn; many nieces and nephews; as well as her beloved extended families in Salamanca and Zamora, Spain.

Services are private. 

Final care has been entrusted to Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, Lewes.

Visit Mrs. O’Leary’s Life Memorial webpage and sign her virtual guestbook at parsellfuneralhomes.com.