Philomena “Phyllis” T. Ruffner (Galutzi)
Passed away Saturday, May 6, 2023 at her home in Donegal, PA with her sons at her side. Phyllis was born January 16, 1941, originally from East Liberty, Larmar Avenue and formerly of Wilkinsburg. She passed due to metastasizing cancer complications. Phyllis was a woman of strength, she didn’t even know she had cancer until the very end and never took any pain medications until the end. Phyllis has nine children with her ex-husband Charles Ruffner who passed away a few years ago from lung cancer.
Phyllis was always devoted to and protective of her family. She cared deeply for her mother, father, sisters, brothers, and children. She would always make time to play outside with her kids whether it was playing in the snow, or playing Indian Baseball, she made them Halloween costumes and baked them the best homemade bread and lemon meringue pies. Her son Chuckie would always say she was both a father and a mother. Phyllis’s house was always full of kids, cousins, and friends. With that many kids, you would be called a different name at any given time.
Phyllis was a very creative woman who loved to dance, garden, cook, and paint. Sometimes her kids would stay with friends for a few days and when they came home, the house would be painted a different color. She loved growing all kinds of vegetables but unfortunately with nine kids running around, they would get picked before she could pick them herself. She was a great cook, especially when it came to spaghetti and meatballs. The boys were always better at that dish than the girls were. She also enjoyed dancing and trying to teach her middle daughter to loosen up. Sadly, it didn’t work. When Phyllis was older, she got her driver’s license and her own car. She loved the freedom of being able to come and go by herself wherever she wanted to go. She liked to speak her mind and be very stubborn.
Throughout her life, Phyllis worked at the same bakery her son’s worked at in Wilkinsburg. She worked at George Akin’s delicatessen in Wilkinsburg and Oakland, and she was a caretaker for her friend Virginia.
Phyllis leaves behind her children Dwayne (Shelly) Ruffner, Grace (Jack) Whipkey, Theresa (Dave) Innes, David (Teri) Ruffner, Eric Ruffner, and Genny Pugh. She also leaves behind 34 grandchildren, 66 great-grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and great cousins.
Phyllis is preceded in death by her parents Grace and Charles Galutzi, her sons Charles, Steven, and Jeffrey Ruffner, her brothers Joe and Jackie, and her sisters Millie, Josephine, Grace (Thomas), and Dolly.
Mom we miss you and you are forever in our hearts.
Friends received at William F. Gross Funeral Home 11735 Frankstown Rd. (at Rodi Rd.), Penn Hills on Wednesday, May 10, 2023 from 2-8 p.m. A funeral service will be held at the funeral home on Thursday, May 11, 2023 at 11 a.m.