Fayville – Alice (Bertonassi) Phillipo, 96, of Fayville, died peacefully Monday, Sept. 8, 2014 at Beaumont Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center of Westborough. Born in Marlborough, the daughter of the late Massimo and Albina (Berni) Bertonassi, she had been the wife of the late Elmer Phillipo, who died in 1995.
Alice spent her life in service to her family and the community. Her strong work ethic originated at an early age. In the sixth grade, she left school and began to care for her siblings when her mother was injured and incapacitated for many months. She continued to care for her family until marrying and starting a family of her own. She had worked as a hostess and waitress at the Framingham Country Club as well as Lower Village House in Stow.
Reaching the age of 60, when most people are ready to retire, she began working for the Southborough Senior Meals program. As an avid baker, in addition to feeding her family, friends, neighbors, and office staff, she often baked goodies to add to the seniors meals. Everyone knew, if you came to visit Alice, you were going to eat before you left. She retired from the Senior Center in 1997 at the age of 80.
In 2006 she was honored to be named the Southborough Senior citizen of the year for her many years of service to her community. She will be greatly missed by her family and community.
She is survived by her son, Ronald Phillipo and his wife Ellie of Marlborough; her daughters, Anne Huff and her husband Kenneth of Southborough, June Phillipo and Elyse Phillipo, both of Fayville, and Bena Phillipo and her husband Peter Khan of Southborough; 10 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; her sisters, Dorothy Angelico and Sylvia Moro, both of Westborough, Margaret Bariolo and her husband George of Milford, and Rita Bertonassi of Southborough; her brothers-in-law, Fernando Baldelli and Andy Baldelli, both of Southborough; and her sister-in-law, Thelma Bertonassi of Marlborough. She was also the mother of the late Carl Phillipo, who died in 2011, and the sister of the late Carl Bertonassi, Irene Baldelli, and Lena Baldelli.
Visiting hours will be held Friday, Sept. 12, from 4-7 p.m., at the Slattery Funeral Home, 40 Pleasant St., Marlborough. A funeral Mass will be celebrated Saturday, Sept. 13, at 10:30 a.m., at St. Anne Church, 20 Boston Rd. (Route 30), Southborough. Burial will follow at Rural Cemetery in Southborough.
Donations may be made to the Southborough Senior Center, 9 Cordaville Rd., Southborough, MA 01772.
