Mrs. Phyllis Virginia Bianchi-Dawson's Obituary
Mrs. Phyllis Virginia Bianchi-Dawson passed on to the loving arms of Jesus our Lord on October 24, 2015. She was 96 years old. She was born May 4, 1919 to Bart and Selma (Johnson) Denman, living most of her life in Muskegon. She graduated from Muskegon High School in the class of June 1937, as Valedictorian. She spent her childhood with her paternal grandparents during the school year and with her parents in the summer. Her father worked in the theaters including Detroit, Grand Haven and St. Louis, MO. Phyllis graduated from Western Michigan University at Kalamazoo with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education and a Master’s Degree in Elementary Counseling. She taught for 23 years at Jolman School in the Orchard View District. She was loved by her many students.
Her love of music began at three years old, when she was gifted in playing the piano by ear. She played for school activities and many programs. She always played for the enjoyment of others. While at Muskegon High School, she met Anthony Bianchi, who was dancing for school assemblies with his sister Rose and was asked to accompany them on the piano. This started a romance that carried through their school years and 57 years of marriage. They married on April 19, 1941. Shortly after they were married, he was sent to Alaska for service as a Military Police during World War II, and then on to the South Pacific. He was in the war four years, five months and six days. Returning home in 1945, he and his brother then built the North Pole Drive-In Restaurant on Laketon Ave. near Wood St. He died September 20, 1998.
In 2000, she married musician, Jerry Dawson who taught music and played the saxophone with area bands. He also served his country in WW ll. He died August 27, 2006. Phyllis’ life consisted of being a wonderful mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She enjoyed teaching, playing the piano to accompany musical programs, entertaining friends, and travel. Her loving kindness was always a gift she gave to others. She often said she had a wonderful life, loved people and would have fed the whole world if she could have.
She had three children, a daughter, Lisa (Richard) Dorato of Grand Rapids, sons, Paul (Darlene) Bianchi of East Grand Rapids, and Marco (Ellen) Bianchi of Fort Meyers, FL., MI; grandchildren, Damon (Sara) Dorato, Dominic (Angela) Dorato, and Devon Dorato, Heidi (Dan) Sheehan, Paulo (Amy) Bianchi, Jessica (Brett) Dealing and Marco (Kelly) Bianchi, Jill (Johnson) Dobb and David Dobb; her great- grandchildren include Antonio, Mario and Nina Dorato, Daniel and Natalie Dorato, Molly, Lucy and Finn Sheehan, Mia and Max Bianchi, Penelope and Zelda Bianchi, Vincenzo Marano and Brock, Hayden and Jack Dobb.
The Jerry Dawson family includes Ellen Fogle, Mary Jane (Bill) Cook, Richard (Lori) Dawson, Patrick Dawson, Suzanne Lack, Kathleen (Jim) Sierminski, Tom (Teri) Dawson and their children and grandchildren.
The family would like to thank the staff for the wonderful care she received at Sanctuary at the Park and Mercy VNS Hospice in Muskegon and the Christian Rest Home and Faith Hospice in Grand Rapids.
THE MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL will be 11:00 AM Thursday, October 29, 2015 at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 3252 Apple Ave. in Muskegon with Rev. Fr. Antony Britto presiding. VISITATION will be Wednesday from 4-8 pm at The Sytsema Chapel, 737 Apple Ave., 231-726-5210, with the ROSARY being prayed at 7:30 PM. Visitation will also be one hour prior to the Mass (10-11AM) at church. ENTOMBMENT will be made in St. Mary’s Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS may be directed to St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 3252 Apple Ave., Muskegon, MI, 49442.
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