Phyllis Brenna

Phyllis Brenna (née Roccanova), born June 30, 1944 in Greenwich Village, New York passed away on August 26, 2025 on Long Island, New York. Phyllis is predeceased by her husband Oscar, her parents Marie and Salvatore, her siblings, Bobby, Jimmy (m. Betty), Marie (m. Raymond), and her niece Teresa.  Phyllis is survived by her three daughters and sons-in-law, Diane and Michael Golden, Patricia and Ron Tergesen, and Maryanne Brenna. Phyllis leaves behind her cherished grandchildren, Thomas Golden, Michael Golden, Kayla Golden, Jenna Tergesen, and Kaitlyn Tergesen. Phyllis was the beloved aunt of Angela (m. Glenn), Marie (m. Danny), Ursula (m. Dan), Madelyn (m. Mark), Anna (m. Kent), Maria, Annie, Thecla, Margaret, Camille (m. Rich), Eloise (m. Russell), Sal (m. Julie), Elizabeth (m. Michael), Ann, and Joann, and lifelong best friend of Francine.  

Phyllis Brenna: a writer, a painter, a crocheter. She was a golfer, a student, and a casino lover. Phyllis was a business owner, a NYS employee, and a “wanna-be” professor. Phyllis earned her Master’s Degree at Stony Brook University. She was a prolific reader, and loved games, puzzles, and scratch-offs.  Phyllis loved to attend Broadway shows and travel the world, visiting over 20 countries. She enjoyed watching game shows, was a Jeopardy whiz, and repeatedly auditioned for Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. Phyllis loved any craft project, especially those found on facebook. She had an affinity for shopping, leading to an abundance of garden gnomes, wind chimes, and kitchen sponges. Phyllis was a fabulous cook. A Lady, she was brilliant, bossy, opinionated, stubborn, and perhaps a bit loud. A life long fan of the Mets and the Rangers, Phyllis believed her mere thoughts could sway a game. She was a decorator, a designer, and most definitely a fashionista. Phyllis never met an accessory or a debate she did not like. She was an avid player of mahjong, bridge, and poker. Phyllis created a variety of arts, including stained glass, ceramics, needlepoint, watercolor, scrapbooks, and knitted baby blankets for grand babies and any future great-grand babies.

Phyllis was a daughter, a mother, a sibling, a grandparent, an aunt, a cousin, and a friend. Phyllis loved dogs, her beloved Chip, and grand-pups Shea, Finn, and Rocky. She tolerated her grand-kitties Alley and Oscar. Phyllis also had a love for birds and watching videos of animals and babies. Phyllis loved a good mystery show, or drama series, or any tv show she came across. She loved exuberantly, unless you were a rodent, snake, or insect - or worse, a slow shopper, slow driver, or slow poker player.

Phyllis possessed many talents. Most importantly, she made us laugh, she loved us loudly, and she will be missed by all who were lucky enough to experience her.

Donations to honor Phyllis’ life and legacy may be gratefully made to https://ocrahope.org/ or  https://www.sandyovarian.org/

 

Memorial Visitation- Saturday August 30, 2025 from 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. at our West Sayville Funeral Home, 245 Main St.

Chapel Service- Saturday August 30, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at our West Sayville Funeral Home

Inurnment- Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Coram