Phyllis Ann Burkhart

Phyllis Ann Burkhart, age 86, passed away suddenly on Sunday, September 17, 2016, at Foundation Park Care Center, after a brief illness. Phyllis was born on September 26, 1930 in Indianapolis, Indiana, the only daughter of Marshall Cherry and Helen Jones-Cherry. She spent the first few years of her childhood in Indianapolis and moved to Toledo as a young girl in the late 1930's. Phyllis was a 1949 graduate of Scott High School and worked as a telephone operator at Ohio Bell and a salesclerk at the downtown LaSalle's Department Store after graduation.

While a student at Scott High School, Phyllis met Gerald (Jerry) Burkhart and the two were married in St. Ann's Catholic Church on September 25, 1954. Together they raised two daughters and two sons and Phyllis thoroughly enjoyed her role of "mom" and later "grandmother. After her children were grown, Phyllis returned to work as a health care aid in the pediatric unit at the Toledo Hospital, a job she loved because she could provide care and assistance to sick children. After retiring in 1984, Phyllis began yet another career as a full time volunteer at the former St. Francis Education Center in Sylvania, Oh, where she was known and loved as "Grandma Phyllis" to hundreds of students during her tenure at the school.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her loving husband of 62 years, Jerry, just last Thanksgiving Day. She is survived by daughters Debbie (Richard) Fotoples and Diane (Chris) Dobaczewski, and sons, Gerald II (Mary Lou) Burkhart and James (Karen) Burkhart. Phyllis is also survived by nine grandchildren, who were the joy of her life, William (Ashley) Fotoples, Daniel Fotoples, Christopher (Carrie) Dobaczewski, Jodie (Jeff) Jaquillard, Jerry (Kristen) Burkhart, Kelly (DeWayne) Noss, Kristi Sager, Renee (Scott) Neidert and Andrea (Luke) Yap. Phyllis and Jerry were also blessed to have thirteen great–grandchildren.

Also surviving Phyllis are brothers, Don (Sharon) Clark and Edward Clark, brother-in-law, Robert Burkhart and sister-in-law, Marie (Bill) Burkhart, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, September 20th from 2:00-8:00 p.m. at Newcomer Funeral Home, 4752 Heatherdowns Blvd, with recitation of the Rosary at 7:00 p.m. The funeral service will begin on Thursday, September 21st at 9:15 a.m. at the funeral home, followed by a procession to Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church for the celebration of Mass at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow at Resurrection Cemetery.

And for you Mom
In Paradisum
May the Angels lead you into Paradise,
May the Martyrs come to welcome you,
And take you to the Holy City,
The New and Eternal Jerusalem,
May the choir of Angels Welcome you,
Where Lazarus is poor no longer,
May you have Eternal Rest