Phyllis (Moreschi) Harper

Phyllis Grace (Moreschi) Harper passed away on Christmas morning, at the age of 83. She was born on February 4, 1940 down the Village, and lived there until her passing.

Phyllis is survived by her husband of 64 years, Arthur “Sonny” Harper, a retired Firefighter in Everett. She leaves behind her daughters, Sharon Roussel and husband Steven, and Debra Iandolo. She is sorrowfully missed by her adoring grandchildren who owned a piece of her heart, Kerri, Katie, and Krystina Iandolo, Kimberly Biggi, and Joseph Biggi and his wife Sacha. She is greatly missed by her loving great grandchildren, Christopher, Christian, Kendyll, Marshall, and Ryleigh Iandolo, Jayden, Jae’Lei, and Skylar Biggi. She is survived by Linda and Jay Holt. She is pre-deceased by her parents, Esther (Pelosi) and John Moreschi, and brothers John “Junior” Moreschi and wife Anna, and James “Chickie” Moreschi of Kentucky, who is survived by his wife Nellie. Phyllis loved and adored all her family, and is greatly missed by her cousin and childhood best friend, Elaine Nerney, sisters-in-law, her Moreschi and Harper nieces and nephews, and so many close friends and relatives too numerous to list.

Phyllis was nicknamed “Pinney” in High School, and the first lines of her yearbook quote was “She has no designs on a higher life, than to be a very good model housewife”. She lived her entire life on her terms and was the epitome of a loving mom, nana, and friend. Family was the most important thing to her. It is said by many that she was “Village Royalty”. She was truthful, honest, and approachable. She always spoke her mind and advocated for people. She built friendships easily. Her village friends always knew they could turn to her and trust her as a confidante. Phyllis was absolutely everyone’s Nana, and she was called Nana by more children we can count. Always the overprotective mom, her children always had to be in her eyesight, and one of her favorite sayings was “better you cry than I cry”. She walked her children to school for so much longer than she should have. While her children were growing up, she would be seen on most days sitting in a chair on her porch overseeing games like hide-and -seek or kickball or from her sidewalk, watching everyone’s children, while playing referee, and getting the best tan she could (never using sunscreen!).” To her final days, those children and nieces, especially Estelle and Maria Moreschi, now grown into adults, still called her weekly and spoke for hours on the phone.

Everyone knew Phyllis as one of the strongest woman ever, and she never left her house without her signature blue eyeshadow and liquid black cat-eye liner. Cooking was her specialty. She, all by herself, prepared the most amazing Feast of the Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve, her most special Holiday, and nobody could forget her Pizzagaina on Easter. All were welcome, and she made everyone feel at home. She even cooked the most delicious Tripe for local restaurants and was still making tripe even in her last days for Sonny. Nobody made better Pizzelle cookies, and people asked for that as gifts and for functions. She looked forward to her weekly shopping trips and restaurants, which she critiqued, as they had to be up to her standards.

In accordance with Phyllis’ wishes, there will be visitation hours at Salvatore Rocco and Sons Funeral Home on Saturday, January 6, 2024 from 9:30 AM-1:00 PM. Her dear, personal friend, Deacon Bill Jackson, (“Mr. Bill”) will be conducting her funeral service at 12:30 PM at Roccos

Funeral Home. Following, you are invited to share a meal in celebration of Phyllis life. Details to follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of her name to Dana Farber Cancer Institute/The Jimmy Fund at https://danafarber.jimmyfund.org or the charity of your choice.