Phyllis D. "Phyl" Fazio

Phyllis "Phyl" Cardinal Fazio of Freeport, left this earth on September 28, 2013, at the Stephenson County Nursing Center at the age of 84. Phyllis was born in Freeport, on April 8, 1929 the daughter of Anthony and Lucille (Giuffre) Cardinal and lived there until 1980 when she moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico. She returned to Freeport in 1998 and lived there until her death. Phyllis met Arthur Fazio in 1947 and they were married in 1953. Their marriage was blessed with five children. While raising her family, Phyllis pursued her lifelong dream of becoming a teacher. It was with great pride that she graduated from Rockford College with a teaching degree in 1975 and taught school for several years. In her later years former students still remembered "Mrs. Fazio" and declared her their favorite teacher. Family was very important to Phyl and her cousins were among her best friends. Phyl was the heart of her family and was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, sister, and friend. She had a positive impact on everyone who knew her and she touched many lives in her 84 years on this earth. Phyllis is survived by her husband, Arthur of Freeport, three sons, Edward (Sara) of Hannibal, MO, Mark (Jane) of Waunakee, WI, Greg of Freeport, two daughters, Kathy (Bud) Pflaume of Freeport and Luann(Steve) Briggs of Phoenix, AZ, a sister, Marguerite "Mara"(Steve) Rohde of Belleville, WI and a brother Sam Cardinal of Anchorage, AK. Phyllis had ten grandchildren and two great-children. She was preceded in death by her mother, Lucille Giuffre Cardinal, her father Anthony Cardinal, a brother Edward Cardinal, and twin daughters who died at birth. A funeral Mass will be held at St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Freeport on Thursday, October 3, at 10:30am with Rev. Kenneth Anderson officiating. Visitation will be held prior to the service starting at 9am. Burial will take place at Calvary Cemetery. A memorial has been established in her memory. Please visit www.burketubbs.com to sign her online guestbook and to share memories.