Filomena "Phyllis" Leonard

Filomena “Phyllis” Colangelo Leonard, age 83 of Hendersonville, Tennessee, exited from this life on March 11, 2022. She was born in Buffalo, New York, and moved to Hendersonville from California in 2006, stopping for a few years in Las Vegas, Nevada, where she lived her best and happiest life.

She always had a lucky streak, and we are still looking for the secret winning Keno numbers she had stashed away and refused to share.  People say, “you can’t take it with you,” but we suspect she did.

She did everything her way, and oddly, her quick exit coincided rapidly with the news of a possible sponge bath, a pending visit from a preacher, and the wedding anniversary with her beloved husband, William H. Leonard, who has been impatiently awaiting her arrival.

She had wicked skills, and could sew anything, paint anything, grow anything, cook anything, and could always be counted on to throw a perfect strike.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Daniel and Connie (Saltalmacchia) Colangelo, and her siblings, Connie Pelonero (Pete), Ada Colangelo, Sharon Colangelo, Danny Colangelo, and her daughter Marie Leonard.

She has left behind her three children, Tina (Brian) Shearer, Kimberly Leonard, and William (Crystal) Leonard, 8 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren, all of which are currently wondering what to do with a rather large doll and plate collection, and marveling at her “prepper” abilities in anticipation of a “supply chain shortage”.  She will no longer have to worry about such things, but Kroger has lost their biggest customer and we hope they have a plan in place.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at Hendersonville Funeral Home, 353 East Main Street, on Saturday, April 30th at 11:00 AM. Visitation for family and friends will begin at 10:00 AM. All are welcome.