Anne "Nancy" M. Pharazyn

Anne “Nancy” Pharazyn (nee Taylor) died peacefully on Tuesday August 6, 2019 at her home in Twin Lakes, WI at the age of 82.

Anne is survived by her sisters, Joan Pierce of Mantua, NJ; Patricia Taylor of LaPlata, NJ; her children, Charles Bowi of Ft. Myers Beach, FL; Robert Pharazyn (the late Kimberly) of Shererville, IN; and Melissa (Scott) Ansburg of Twin Lakes, WI; her treasured grandchildren, Christopher (Katie) Ansburg of Phoenix, AZ; Jessica (Jason) Sweeney of Twin Lakes, WI; Jennifer (Dave) Dennings of Burlington, WI; Andrew Pharazyn of Schererville, IN; Matthew Pharazyn of Schererville, IN; great-grandchildren, Sydney and Mason of Phoenix, AZ; and Autumn of Twin Lakes, WI. Fond aunt and great aunt of many. Anne was preceded in death by her parents, Nicholas and Anne; dear brothers, Rocky Barrett and Richard Taylor; her husband, Charles Pharazyn; beloved daughter-in-law, Kim Pharazyn; and Trouble, the smartest tuxedo cat the world has ever known.

Anne was born on January 13, 1937, in Philadelphia, PA to Nicholas and Anne Barrett Taylor. She graduated from Little Flower High School in 1954. She entered the convent after high school and became a probationary nun for nearly five years, but ultimately decided a life in the vocations was not for her, so she gave up the habit. She would go on to serve the church in many other capacities throughout her life. She was married to a trumpet player and chemist named Charlie Pharazyn in 1961. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2011, shortly before Charles’ passing. The newlywed couple built a new home in Lindenwold, NJ, and loved practicing parenting with nephew, Billy (he never did get that red ball), nieces, Joanie and Susan, for a couple of years before welcoming Chuck, Bob, and Melissa into their world between 1964-1969. They would later reside in the Chicago suburbs, Glenwood and Crete, before making their final home with Melissa and family in Twin Lakes, WI.

Her children remember well her love of music and reading, her love of travel, they cherish the memories of simple things, such as the way she decorated the house for the holidays, the payday trips to McDonald’s and other restaurants, the birthday parties that made every one of them feel special, the hugs that told them it would be ok, summer vacations at many different campgrounds, the trips to Wildwood, the visits and holiday celebrations at the homes of aunts and uncles, and her love of baseball, which began in her youth when she would attend Philadelphia Athletics games at nearby Shibe Park. Anne would later adopt the Chicago White Sox as her home team, and reluctantly became a Milwaukee Brewers fan after moving to Wisconsin in 2009. That, too, turned out to be ok, as the games were fun, and they even occasionally beat the Chicago Cubs, so there as that.

In her younger days, Anne worked at a Wanamaker’s Department store in Philadelphia, RCA in New Jersey, and then, in her later years, at Walden Books and as a salesperson at Nelson Brothers Furniture in Homewood, IL.

Anne was always very active in her local Parishes, from singing in her various church choirs, to serving on Paris councils, teaching catechism, serving as a lay minister to the sick and elderly, staring with the former Saint Stephen’s Catholic Parish at Broad and Butler streets in Philadelphia. Then, in the former Saint Lawrence Parish in Lindenwold, NJ, where she would volunteer as a lunch lady in the Parish school, and even worked as a substitute teacher on occasion, She also attended and was involved in Saint John Parish in Glenwood, IL, Saint Agnes in Chicago Heights, IL, and her final spiritual home, Saint John the Evangelist Catholic church in Twin Lakes, WI.

Anne was especially active and involved in the senior community of Twin Lakes, being involved in group outings and bingo games, as well as other activities. The Senior Group had a great impact on Anne’s life, and she was very grateful to be part of that community. Anne made many wonderful friends in Twin Lakes through the Senior Group, and will be sorely missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing her.

The Pharazyn Family will receive friends from 9:00AM until the Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00PM on Saturday, August 10, 2019 at St. John’s Catholic Church, 701 N. Lake Ave. Twin Lakes, WI.  Interment will be in St. John’s Cemetery.  Memorial remembrances may be made to Aurora At Home Hospice, 106 N. Dodge St. Burlington, WI 53105.  The Haase-Lockwood & Assoc. Funeral Home of Twin Lakes is serving the Pharyzyn Family.