Obituary of Phyllis W. Palermo

Phyllis W. Palermo, 82, of Cty. Rte. 21, Addison (Town of Rathbone), passed away at home on Monday, November 27, 2023 Phyllis was born in Corning, NY on April 18, 1941, the daughter of the late James A. and Dorothy P. (Myres) Walker. She was a 1959 graduate of Woodhull High School. Phyllis married Henry Taft and they had two sons together. Following their marriage, she moved to the Rochester area where she met her second husband, Cosmo Palermo. They had two boys as well. Phyllis settled in Newark, NY in 1968 where she worked as a property manager for various rental properties in the Rochester and Lyons areas. In 2005 Phyllis returned to her home in Rathbone. She was employed as a property manager at Badger Creek Apartments, EDC Management in Painted Post until her retirement. She had attended the Friends of the Cross Christian Church in East Corning. Phyllis’ strengths and fulfillments came from her love of her children and from her strong faith in the Lord. She and her siblings remained very close throughout their lives which included weekly Saturday morning gatherings for coffee and conversation. Phyllis is survived by her sons and their spouses, Christopher and Jan Taft of Vestal, NY, Shaun and Wendy Taft of Knoxville, TN, Michael (Christine Moffat) Palermo of Bedford, NY and Andrew Palermo of Irvine, CA, grandchildren, Shannon Taft, Courtney (Graham) Burt, Valerie (Richard) Cook, John (Bethany) Taft, Amy Guiles, Celeste Palermo, Lucas Palermo, Thomas Palermo, Meeghan Goldstein, Riley Goldstein, McKenna Goldstein and Ryan Goldstein, her great grandchildren, Jackson Cook and Sammy Cook, her siblings, Kathleen Walker of Augusta, Georgia, Terry and Gloria Walker of Addison, Cindy Lou Doyle of Addison and Katrina Walker with Tom Laredo of Freeville, NY along with many nieces, nephews and cousins. Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents, Jim and Dorothy Walker, her infant daughter, Molly Jo Taft, her sister, Sally Walker, her brother, Douglas Walker, her nephew, Jamie Walker and her former husbands. Friends may call on Friday, December 1 from noon to 2 pm at the H.P. Smith & Son Funeral Home, 1607 Main St. Woodhull, NY. Funeral services will follow there at 2 pm with Rev. Brian Diffenbacher officiating. Burial will be made in Hedgesville Cemetery.