Phyllis Petrisko (née Vecchiarelli) passed away peacefully at Levine & Dickson Hospice House at Southminster on July 27, 2025.  A remarkable woman whose life was defined by love, strength, and joy, Phyllis leaves behind a legacy that continues to inspire all who knew her.

The family will receive family and friends beginning at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 3, 2025, at M. L. Ford & Sons Funeral Home, 4820 Charlotte Hwy., Lake Wylie, SC.  A funeral service will begin at 3:00 p.m.  A private family burial will be held in Fort Jackson National Cemetery, 4170 Percival Road, Columbia, SC, on Monday, August 4, 2025, at 1:00 p.m.

She was a first-generation Italian American, born on November 13, 1950, in Brooklyn, NY, to Dominick and Maria Lucia Vecchiarelli, who immigrated to the United States shortly before her birth. Phyllis grew up surrounded by the values of hard work, family, and tradition. She graduated from St. Joseph High School in Brooklyn, where she later married, started her family, and began her journey as a devoted mother.

In 1979, Phyllis moved to Howell, NJ, where she began working at Freehold Travel Agency. Her passion for travel and dedication to service led her to eventually own the business, becoming a cherished member of the local community. Her love for exploring the world took her across the globe, often more than once, and she brought that same sense of adventure to her everyday life.

In 2015, Phyllis relocated to Lake Wylie, SC, where she remained active and vibrant. Whether it was playing pickleball, cards, or swimming, she embraced everything with the same enthusiasm she brought to every part of her life. She was a phenomenal cook and a gracious hostess, creating unforgettable holiday feasts and Sunday dinners that were filled with love, and most importantly, her famous “gravy” that her grandchildren adored.

Affectionately known as “Mamo,” a name lovingly given by her first grandchild and carried on by all her grandchildren and even extended family, Phyllis’s greatest joy was her family. Her love, wisdom, and presence created a close-knit bond that remains her greatest legacy.

Phyllis is predeceased by her parents, her brother Nicholas Vecchiarelli, and her beloved dog, Smokey. She is survived by her devoted husband, George Petrisko, and stepsons Scott, Jason, and Bryan Petrisko (Rosie). She was the proud mother of her two daughters, Laura (Torre) Miranda (Victor) and Donna (Torre) DeRado (Joseph), and her seven grandchildren: Joseph DeRado IV (Sarah), Joseph Fiordalisi, Michael DeRado, Daniel Fiordalisi, Vanessa Johnson (Evan), Nicholas Petrisko, and Sofia Miranda, and her two great-granddaughters, Eleanor and Veronica DeRado.

Phyllis is also survived by her sister, Maryann Giustino, sister-in-law, Barbara Vecchiarelli, and many loving nieces and nephews. Her family was her heart and soul and her grandchildren, who remained close to her well into adulthood, and her great-grandchildren were the light of her life.

As one of her grandsons so beautifully put it: "She didn’t lose to cancer because she lived too good of a life to have lost." Her strength, spirit, and love will never be forgotten. And as mamo always said when she said goodbye, I love you, boom, boom, boom.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 https://www.stjude.org/donate or VIA Health Partners Hospice, P. O. Box 470408, Charlotte NC 28247  https://www.viagiving.org/honor-someone-special.

M. L. Ford & Sons Funeral Home, Lake Wylie, SC is serving the family of Mrs. Petrisko.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.