Phyllis Danna Yannelli

Phyllis (Yannelli) Danna (nee Skok) of Cincinnati, Ohio, formerly of Waldwick, NJ, passed away peacefully on October 1st, 2024. She was 83 years old.

Phyllis was born in 1940 to the late Sergius and Olga Skok and raised in Queens, NY. She graduated high school and went on to work at ABC in NY as an executive secretary. It was there that she met Joseph Danna, whom she married in 1962. They raised their family in Waldwick, NJ, where she was an active member of the PTA and was a Brownie and Girl Scout leader. She was an avid gardener and enjoyed needlepoint, crocheting and music, attending many concerts with her daughters and sister Toni. Joe and Phyllis were together until his death in 1983. She is the cherished mother of Terry Bell (John) and Patty Boosveld (Todd); Beloved grandmother of Shawn and Corey Boosveld. She is also survived by brother Serge Skok (Mary Ann) and many cherished nieces and nephews, as well as stepchildren and step-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her sister Toni Skok (2012).

In 2006, after reconnecting with her high school sweetheart, she married Ben Yannelli. They spent 17 years together, traveling with their friends and enjoying playing golf, doing puzzles and hosting “Camp Poppie” for the grandkids. Phyllis is survived by Ben’s son Carmen Yannelli (Ruth), daughter Anne Marie Garrett (Mike) and grandchildren Ben, Rachel and Vincent Yannelli and Megan and Allison Garrett. She was preceded in death by Ben (Jan 2024) and Ben’s son Anthony (2021).

Although she leaves behind many family and friends who will miss her dearly, through our memories of her and her influence on our lives she will live forever in our hearts. We will forever miss her knowledge of flowers, plants, and her gardening expertise, and we will never be able to listen to a Rod Stewart song (particularly “Have I Told You Lately”) without thinking of her, as he was her first love.

The Danna and Yannelli family will receive friends on Monday, October 14, 2024 from 5:00 – 8:00 PM at the Vander Plaat Funeral Home, 257 Godwin Avenue, Wyckoff, NJ.  A Funeral Mass will be held on on Tuesday, October 15, 2024 10:00 AM at Church of the Nativity, 315 Prospect Street, Midland Park, NJ with a burial to follow at Christ the King Cemetery, 980 Huron Road, Franklin Lakes.

In Lieu of flowers donations can be made in Phyllis's memory to the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition, 12221 Merit Dr., Suite 1950, Dallas, TX 75251.

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