Anne Kathleen Phillippi

Anne Kathleen Phillippi (Annie),

12/12/1944 – 12/30/2018

Anne Phillippi passed away in her Phoenix home on December 30, 2018 at the age of 74. After a 12 year battle with a rare form of cancer and a beautiful life, Annie peacefully passed in her sleep and became God’s newest Angel.  Born in Fort Knox, Kentucky and raised in Columbia Heights, Minnesota, Annie led a very happy and blessed life. The oldest of 10 children, Annie grew up helping her parents raise her siblings. She was a very responsible, loving and caring sister.  Shortly after graduating from high school, Annie moved to Las Vegas in the early 1960’s for an exciting life of bartending, cocktail waitressing and being a Keno girl during the “mob days” of Vegas. Surrounded by infamous people, such as the Rat Pack, Elvis and even dated Mr. Merle Haggard for a while. Annie had many stories of her early to mid 20’s in Vegas. “ A truly fun time for me” she said.  Around 1972 Annie moved to Phoenix, Arizona where she started her family. She was an extremely hard-working, single mother and always put her children first. She always had multiple jobs and continuously mentioned how family should always come first. No matter what her children needed, she made sure they had everything they needed for a happy, loving, encouraging, beautiful life. Annie also lived in Dracut, Massachusetts from 1994 to 2000.  Annie was preceded in death by her mother and father, James Norbert Phillippi and Kathleen Lorraine Phillipi. Also, her brothers Jimmy and Joe Phillippi.  She graduated from St. Anthony High School in 1962 and received her degree in English from UMass Lowell in 1998, graduating with the title Summa Cum Laude.  She had many careers including being a legal secretary, accountant/bookkeeper, real estate advisor and she ended her career as the Pastor’s Assistant at St. Francis Xavier in Phoenix.  She is survived by her children Peggy Pelzel-Pease, Donald Phillippi and Manuel Valdez. As well as her remaining siblings Francie Marino, Leo Phillippi, Fred Phillippi, Nick Phillippi, Phil Phillippi, Ray Phillippi and Bill Phillippi. As well as her three grandchildren, Branden, Wyatt and Morgan.  Annie was very spiritual and a practicing Catholic with a very strong belief in the Church of God. She was a Eucharistic minister and part of the church choir. She had an incredible love of sports and cheered on all Boston teams as well as teams from Minnesota and Arizona. She loved spending time with family and friends and she always had her beautiful smile and loving attitude wherever she went. She was a truly loving and fun person and will be deeply missed by many. Her words of wisdom reached many people throughout her years. Her wisdom will live on with them so they may pass it on to others.  Wake and funeral services will be held at Most Holy Trinity on Feb 4th 2019. Her wake will be at 9:00 A.M. followed by her funeral at 10:00 A.M. Flowers with Annie’s name may be sent to Most Holy Trinity the day of service, 8620 N. 7th street Phoenix AZ, 85020 or flowers can be sent a day or two prior to services, as well as the day of (before 8:00 A.M.) to Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home, 4800 E. Indian School Road Phoenix, AZ 85018. Donations for Multiple Myeloma Cancer research can be sent to Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, 5881 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix, AZ 85054.  Annie’s spirit will continue to live through the many lives she has touched. Let us not mourn her death, but celebrate her life which was full of happiness, laughter, love, and a true devotion to friends and family.