Phyllis Teresa Olson

In Loving Memory of Phyllis Teresa Olson. Phyllis, 84, passed away peacefully on November 26, 2024 with her children by her side in Chandler, AZ. Phyllis was born on September 14, 1940, in Chicago, Illinois to Sam and Carmella Sparano (nee Tosto). Phyllis was married in 1961 and was faithfully married for 61 years to Russell E. Olson who preceded her in death in 2021. After Marriage the family lived in Park Forest, IL and relocated in 1976 to Frankfort, IL until retiring to Naples, FL in 1998. Phyllis moved to Arizona in 2021 from Naples, FL to stay with family.

Phyllis grew up in Chicago, attended Austin High School. After High School she was a professional hairdresser, which she did for thirty years. She started her career at an elite beauty shop on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile, then after having her children she worked inside the family home. Many of the clients were people in the community not only in Frankfort but Park Forest. The clients became an extension of her family not only in her house but seeing them throughout the community.

Phyllis was a woman of many talents and had a heart of gold. She designed her family’s home in Frankfort, IL which was modern for its time. Phyllis decorated the house with close detail and style in every room. Her strong sewing skills and artistic abilities were displayed throughout the family home whether it be through needlework, macrame’, or a comforting blanket she knitted. She was a master chef, her main cuisine of course, being Italian but she could cook any ethnic meal from scratch with precision and taught friends and family to cook. She made a house a loving home for her entire family.

 Her passion was golfing in which she earned herself three holes in one during her life!!! Mind you on not easy courses. Phyllis practiced and studied the game and thoroughly enjoyed it. She was a member of Prestwick Country Club in Frankfort and Vanderbilt Country Club in Naples, FL.

Phyllis was a devout Catholic and gave her children a strong moral compass and taught her children to love each other and other people. She was the backbone of our family and taught us many lessons to live by and was an amazing person that was deeply loved by her children, son Michael (Lily) Olson, Patricia (Paul) Sherman, Russell Phillip Olson, and Christie (David) Mann. She had eight adoring grandchildren: Dr. John Michael Sherman (Chelsea), Christopher Sherman, Debany Olson, Christian Olson, Sara Mann, Lauren Mann, Grace Mann and Michael Mann. She also had one great grandchild, Jason David Sherman. She is survived by sisters Patricia Ann Fortuna and Teresea Dunne and many other family members and friends that cherished Phyllis’ s friendship and love. 

A Visitation will be held Saturday, December 7, 2024 from 9:00 – 11:00 am followed by a Funeral Service at 11:00 am at Whitney & Murphy Bueler Mortuary, 14 W. Hulet Drive, Chandler, AZ 85225.

In lieu of flowers please make a donation to Catholic Charities in Phyllis’s memory.