Obituary: Phyllis Ann (nee Handley) Pierce

Phyllis Ann (nee Handley) Pierce, age 84 of Grand Island, passed away peacefully on Jan. 2, 2021, from COVID-19.

Phyllis was born in Niagara Falls to the late Charles E. Handley Sr. and Evelyn I. (Dennis). She was a Niagara Falls High School graduate and was employed as a secretary at Hooker Chemical until she left to raise her children.

She was a member of the St. Paul’s United Methodist Church choir, the Hooker Chorus, a long-term member of Trinity United Methodist Church, WOW and The Bishop’s Committee.
She also worked as a volunteer for the late Rev. Harold Tyson and Laura Reinauer at the Grand Island Help Center during the 1980s.

Phyllis spent her final three years as a resident of Rosa Coplon Living Center at the Weinberg Campus in Getzville where she was admired and loved by the nursing staff for her friendliness, as she happily marched up and down the hallways. She was a devoted wife, loving mother, and faithful friend who will always be cherished by family and friends for her caring warmth, joyful laughter, and sunny smile.

Besides her parents, she is predeceased by her stepmother, Dorothy Handley; brother, Charles E. Handley Jr.; and daughter, Susan E. Pierce. She is survived by her devoted and beloved husband of 61 years, Halbert E. Pierce III; her son, David (Robin) Pierce of San Antonio; and daughter, Amy (Anthony) Pacini of Land O Lakes, Florida; her brother, Robert (Debi) Handley of North Tonawanda; sister-in-law Jane Handley of Dublin, Ohio; many cousins, nieces, a nephew and close friends.

A memorial service will be held at Trinity United Methodist Church at a future date. Condolences may be made at www.kaiserfuneral.com.