DONATELLI, Phyllis L. (Belyea), 93, March 3, 2016. A private graveside service will be held in Maine. Donations may be made to the Casa de la Luz Hospice Foundation.
TUCSON, AZ — On March 3, 2016, our Mum, Gram, and Foo Foo passed away peacefully in her sleep at the home of her daughter, in Tucson, Ariz. She was 93 years old.
Phyllis was born in Monticello in January of 1923, to William and Mildred (Wotton) Belyea. She was one of nine children.
Phyllis is survived by her two children, Gail (Stephen) Donatelli Crockett and Mark (Arlene) Donatelli; five grandchildren, Kara (Joseph Martinez) Myhaver, Marissa Myhaver, Dane (Jennifer) Donatelli, Kyla (James) Kelton, and Leah Donatelli; and 10 great-grandchildren, Grace, Brody, Laura, Ivan, Scarlet, Logan, Max, Piper, Destiny, and Nicholas.
Phyllis attended Monticello and Houlton schools and at the age of 18, she bravely left her small town for the big city of Portland where in 1949 she married the love of her life, Dominic (Dick) Donatelli, only to lose him at the young age of 51.
Upon arrival to Portland she acquired work cleaning homes until landing a job at Porteous Mitchell & Braun, where she worked for 10 years. She was later employed at Fairchild Semiconductor and Sentinel Answering Service before starting her own business, Colonial Answering Service of Portland Maine, which she owned and operated for many years until selling her business and retiring to spend time with her grandchildren, who meant the world to her. Over her lifetime, Phyllis spent as much time as possible with her family and in her later years her most precious days were spent when her great-grandchildren came for frequent visits. We have lost a most exquisite soul, a kind, gentle, loving spirit of grace and beauty. We will forever miss the joy of her presence.
Phyllis is also survived by two sisters, Barbara (Francis) Harvey and Elizabeth (Richard) Cowperthwaite, of Monticello; one brother, Billie (William) (Gladys) Belyea of Houlton, and Gilbert and Theresa Donatelli (brother-in-law and sister-in-law), of Portland, who were Phyllis’s closest friends and confidants. In addition, Phyllis is survived by many nieces, nephews, and extended family members who she adored. Phyllis is predeceased by her parents; her husband; her sisters, Evelyn Dyer and Laura Belyea; and her brothers, Paul, Ray, Carl, and Charlie (Charles) Belyea.
At Phyllis’s request, a private graveside service will be held in Maine. Donations may be made to: Casa de la Luz Hospice Foundation at www.casahospice.com.
