The passing of Phyllis Brugnolotti, née Towey, NYC

Myself and Viv with Phyllis, in New York in 2019.

The Diary was informed on Sunday last of the death of Phyllis Brugnolotti, née Towey, of New York City, on 10 July 2022, at the age of 93.

Loving wife to Rudolph Brugnolotti who passed in February of 1988, Phyllis was a devoted wife, daughter, sister, aunt and friend to many. She was an educator, a librarian, a volunteer, a student of history and language and a lifelong learner. She was retired from her position as Librarian with the private Collegiate School in New York. Visitation will be at Chas Peter Nagel Funeral Home on Monday, July 18, 2022 at 9am, and her funeral mass will follow at Our Lady of Good Council Church, New York, at 10am.

Phyllis, who was predeceased by her sisters Monica and Joan, was the grand-daughter of my own grandfather's eldest sister, Katie Agnes Shortall, née Byrne, born and raised in Kilcullen. Phyllis was a regular visitor to Kilcullen in her younger days, where she stayed with her grand-aunts Peg and Nora Byrne, who lived and operated their bar and grocery business where the Eurospar is now. I have young memories of her as 'the American cousin', and became re-acquainted with her during the past decade. We met on a number of occasions from 2014 whenever I visited the New York area, notably at my 70th birthday celebration held in Cold Spring NY in that year where she presented me with a book written by her sister Joan that added much to my knowledge of the Shortall branch of the family. She was also cousin to the Nolan and connected Brophy families here.

I miss our email correspondence during these recent past years, which both provided insights into my own family history and entertained with a wit and humour much sharper than her years might suggest.

May she rest in peace. BB.