Obituary for Phyllis Dirienzo (Bursese)
Phyllis B. Dirienzo died peacefully at home on April 3, 2022.
Born in 1929 to Florence (Garoffolo) and Samuel Bursese, she graduated from Newark High School in 1948, and following her post- high school education, she began a career at Mutual Benefit Life, as the Executive Assistant to a top corporate board member. She thrived in her work there, and forged bonds of friendship with colleagues, which lasted a lifetime.
While working at Mutual Benefit, Phyllis met Kings Point Midshipman Bob Dirienzo, and following his graduation and return from active Navy duty, they married in 1952.
In 1957, they settled in a new home in Millington, New Jersey, where they raised 3 children and celebrated 67 years of marriage. Phyllis enjoyed entertaining, opening her gracious home to friends and family, always creating memorable gatherings with ease and elegance. She also enjoyed gardening, decorating, and collecting, and had an instinctive eye for style and color, which she evidenced in all that she did.
Phyllis returned to the workforce in the late 1960's at the cusp of the computer age, quickly adapting her skills and experience, working for a number of corporations both large and small during the next decade and a half, while still dedicated to her home and family.
Always enjoying the challenge, competition and companionship of Contract Bridge, Phyllis, and her late husband Bob, embraced the game with new gusto following their retirements, playing both socially and competing in regional and national tournaments, where Phyllis achieved the title of Life Master.
Phyllis will be remembered by her family for her warmth, compassion, humor, and generosity, as well as her strength, perseverance, and faith.
She is survived by her children Kathy Courain, and her husband Thomas, David Dirienzo, and Karen Scher, and her husband David, her grandchildren Elizabeth Borletti, and her husband Giancarlo, John Courain, and his wife Mariel, Aaron Courain, and his wife Alyson, Samuel and Anya Scher, her great grandchildren Estela, Giorgia, Valentina, Luke, and Jack. She was predeceased by husband Anthony C. Dirienzo, known to all as,” Bob”, in December of 2019.
Visitors will be received at the funeral home on Thursday, April 7, 2022, from 4-8pm.
Visitors are asked to go directly to church. The funeral Mass will be celebrated at Holy Family Church, 28 Brookline Avenue, Nutley at 10:30am, on Friday April 8, 2022.
The interment will follow at Glendale Cemetery, Bloomfield, NJ
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to can be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital (www.stjude.org)
Born in 1929 to Florence (Garoffolo) and Samuel Bursese, she graduated from Newark High School in 1948, and following her post- high school education, she began a career at Mutual Benefit Life, as the Executive Assistant to a top corporate board member. She thrived in her work there, and forged bonds of friendship with colleagues, which lasted a lifetime.
While working at Mutual Benefit, Phyllis met Kings Point Midshipman Bob Dirienzo, and following his graduation and return from active Navy duty, they married in 1952.
In 1957, they settled in a new home in Millington, New Jersey, where they raised 3 children and celebrated 67 years of marriage. Phyllis enjoyed entertaining, opening her gracious home to friends and family, always creating memorable gatherings with ease and elegance. She also enjoyed gardening, decorating, and collecting, and had an instinctive eye for style and color, which she evidenced in all that she did.
Phyllis returned to the workforce in the late 1960's at the cusp of the computer age, quickly adapting her skills and experience, working for a number of corporations both large and small during the next decade and a half, while still dedicated to her home and family.
Always enjoying the challenge, competition and companionship of Contract Bridge, Phyllis, and her late husband Bob, embraced the game with new gusto following their retirements, playing both socially and competing in regional and national tournaments, where Phyllis achieved the title of Life Master.
Phyllis will be remembered by her family for her warmth, compassion, humor, and generosity, as well as her strength, perseverance, and faith.
She is survived by her children Kathy Courain, and her husband Thomas, David Dirienzo, and Karen Scher, and her husband David, her grandchildren Elizabeth Borletti, and her husband Giancarlo, John Courain, and his wife Mariel, Aaron Courain, and his wife Alyson, Samuel and Anya Scher, her great grandchildren Estela, Giorgia, Valentina, Luke, and Jack. She was predeceased by husband Anthony C. Dirienzo, known to all as,” Bob”, in December of 2019.
Visitors will be received at the funeral home on Thursday, April 7, 2022, from 4-8pm.
Visitors are asked to go directly to church. The funeral Mass will be celebrated at Holy Family Church, 28 Brookline Avenue, Nutley at 10:30am, on Friday April 8, 2022.
The interment will follow at Glendale Cemetery, Bloomfield, NJ
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to can be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital (www.stjude.org)