Obituary of Phyllis A. Oswald

Mrs. Phyllis A. Oswald (nee Smargiassi), 70, of Toms River, formerly of South Orange, died on Sunday, June 15, 2008, in her home surrounded by loved ones. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the Funeral Mass at Our Lady of Sorrows Church, 217 Prospect St., South Orange, on Thursday, June 19, at 9:30 a.m. Interment will be in St. Teresas Cemetery in Summit. Visitation will be held at Preston Funeral Home, 153 South Orange Ave., South Orange, on Tuesday from 7 to 9 p.m. and Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. For more information or to send condolences please visit prestonfuneral home.net. Phyllis was born on Dec. 15, 1937, in Elizabeth. The youngest of eight children, Phyllis lived in South Orange for 64 years before retiring to Toms River in 2002. On June 17, 1962, she was united in marriage to Ralph V. Oswald Jr. (Ozzie) of Hillside. Phyllis was an active member of Our Lady of Sorrows Church and enjoyed gardening, cooking, traveling and the opera. Phyllis will most be remembered as a devoted wife, mother and her most cherished role, grandmother. She is survived by her beloved husband of 46 years, Ralph V. Oswald Jr., and her loving son and his wife, Jane and Ralph V. Oswald III of Perkasie, Pa.; her loving daughters and their husbands, Laura and Robert Smith and Linda and Matteo Artale, all of Flemington. Gramma will be greatly missed by her adoring grandchildren, Sam and Sara, Ashley and Robert, and Olivia, Julia and Nicholas. Phyllis was predeceased by her parents, Filomena and Domenick Smargiassi; her brothers, Theodore, Thomas and Nicholas Smargiassi, and sister, Anna Maffei. She is survived by her dear sister, Mary Maffei, and her loving brothers, Michael and Joseph Smargiassi. Phyllis will also be greatly missed by her many nieces, nephews, friends and cousins in Australia. Memorial donations may be sent in the name of Phyllis A. Oswald to St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital, Tribute Processing Department, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tenn. 38105.