MALONEY, Phyllis Ann (DiGiovanni), 63, of Upper Saddle River, NJ died peacefully at her home in Marblehead, MA on Sunday, December 25^th surrounded by her husband and children after courageously living with breast cancer for over 10 years. She leaves behind her devoted husband, William Jr., and her two loving children, Meredith Tedford and her husband, Jamie, of Marblehead, MA and their children Nathan, Lucy and Whit, and William Maloney III and his wife, Jessica, and their daughter, Ruby, of New York City. She was the daughter of the late Pasquale and Rose DiGiovanni of Farmingdale, NY and is survived by her brother Ernest DiGiovanni and his wife Georgeann.  Phyllis is also survived by her mother-in-law and father-in-law, William Sr. and Gloria Maloney, of Saddle River, NJ, her sister-in-law Sharon Devries, and numerous other family members and friends.

Phyllis was born in Brooklyn and grew up in Farmingdale, NY.  She was an exceptionally bright and vivacious young woman who completed Farmingdale High School in three years.  She attended Queens College where she expanded her love of literature and language.  She wrote beautiful and sincere letters, was a stickler for good grammar, and enjoyed completing crossword puzzles each morning with her coffee.

She worked alongside her husband to grow the family’s healthcare and hospitality businesses in northern New Jersey and New York.  One of her most treasured tasks as Director of Human Resources was writing personalized holiday and birthday cards to each employee every year even when her staff grew to over one thousand.   She took great pride in adding a personal touch to interior design, special events, and decorating the properties for Christmas.  She considered everyone she worked with an extension of her family.

She was a beloved and enthusiastic grandmother to Nathan, Lucy, Whit, and Ruby who were all her greatest pride and joy.  She had boundless energy and patience for teaching, playing, and storytelling.

She was an avid gardener and amazing cook and will always be remembered in our flowerbeds and around our tables.  She enjoyed antiquing with her husband and vacationing at their homes in Squam Lake, NH and Key Largo, FL.

Phyllis refused to be defined by her illness and will always be remembered by her loved ones as a funny, generous, thoughtful, bold, and intelligent woman with a style of her own. She will be deeply missed by all whom she touched during her life and she will live on in our hearts.

Visiting hours will be held at Van Emburgh Funeral Home in Ridgewood, NJ on Thursday from 2-4 pm and 7-9 pm.  A funeral mass will be celebrated at St. Gabriel’s in Saddle River, NJ on Friday at 10 am.  Phyllis will be interred at Waterside Cemetery in Marblehead, MA.  Donations can be made in her honor to Weill Medical College of Cornell University, attn: Dr. Anne Moore, Breast Cancer Research Fund (425 East 61^st Street, 8^th Floor, New York, NY 10065), where she was treated.