CANISTEO – Phyllis Diane Cassidy, 77, passed away unexpectedly and peacefully Sunday morning (July 16, 2023) at her home on South Elm Street.
Born in Hornell on Oct. 17, 1945, she was a daughter of the late Ivan and Oneta (Coots) Sanford. On May 21, 1966, she was married at St. Joachim’s Church in Canisteo to Thomas A. Cassidy, who survives.
A lifelong resident of Canisteo, Phyllis was a graduate of Canisteo Central School and after raising her family she received an associate’s degree from Alfred State College.
She was employed at the Bath V.A. Medical Center before she became employed in 1983 as a secretary in the Horticultural Department of Alfred State College. In 1988 Phyllis began her career at the former Canisteo Savings & Loan Association and retired from there after many years of dedicated employment.
Phyllis was originally a communicant of the former St. Joachim’s Church in Canisteo and was currently a devout and faithful communicant of St. Ann’s Church in Hornell where she attended the Sunday afternoon rosary and was a member of the Perpetual Adoration Chapel.
A voracious reader, she volunteered at the Wimodaughsian Free Library in Canisteo and was a member of the Canisteo Historical Society and a life member of KAHOKO and was actively involved with her high school class reunions.
An avid collector of lighthouses, Phyllis loved to travel and enjoyed spending time at the beaches at the Outer Banks and in the New England States. She liked sporting events, especially baseball and football and attending performing arts events in Toronto, New York City and at the Rochester Philharmonic and the Naples Summer Theater.
She is lovingly survived by her husband of 57 years, Tom; two children, Kyle (Michelle) Cassidy of Hope Mills, NC and Carrie (Robert) Struble of Pineville, NC; 10 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; one sister, Priscilla Abbey of Wayland, NY; as well as several nieces and nephews.
To honor her request there will be no calling hours. Relatives and friends are invited to join her family at St. Ann’s Church, 31 Erie Ave., Hornell where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday (July 21, 2023). Committal prayers and interment will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Town of Fremont.
In lieu of flowers, those wishing may contribute in her memory to the Wimodaughsian Free Library, 19 W. Main St., Canisteo, NY 14823. Envelopes for memorial contributions will be available at the church.
The Bishop-Johnson & DeSanto Funeral Home, 285 Main St., Hornell is honored to assist Phyllis’ family with the arrangements.
Online condolences or remembrances of Phyllis are welcome on the Facebook page of Bishop-Johnson & DeSanto Funeral Home or at www.bishopdesanto.com.
