April 4, 1937 – Feb. 5, 2020

Phyllis Ann Nelson was born in 1934 in Kansas to Nellie Bonando and Vito Holmes. When she was a baby the family moved to Los Angeles.

When she was 16 years old she married Norman, the love of her life. Norman and Phyllis had four children: Deborah Jean (who passed away at 2 years of age in 1957), Raymond Robert, Diana Jean and John Allen. Norman and Phyllis were both devastated at the loss of their firstborn and Debbie’s passing might have given them the strong bond and love for helping others. 

  Phyllis lived in La Crescenta since 1956 and was a very active member of the community. She was a teacher’s aid at La Crescenta Elementary School and was both a Boy Scout and Camp Fire Girl leader when her children were in school. After her own children grew up she became a teacher’s aid and volunteered for over 20 years at Lincoln Elementary School. She was also very involved in Crescenta Valley High School football and volleyball programs, helping to support them and raise money for them. She, with one of her best friends, was a founder of the Prom Plus program, which is still keeping students safe on prom night.

Phyllis believed that helping with these activities and being a part of it all was “just a way of giving back to society all that I enjoyed.”    

She is survived by her three children, 14 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild.

Phyllis touched the lives of everyone who knew her. She was known as a grandma to many people and many considered her the grandma of La Crescenta. She will be greatly missed by her family and her many friends.

Services will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 25 at 4 p.m. at Montrose Church, 2409 Florencita Drive in Montrose.