Rest in Peace: Phyllis Mae (White) Tuscan
Phyllis Mae (White) Tuscan, mother of Fr. Joseph Tuscan, baptized Philomena Mary White, departed her loving family on December 24, 2022.
Phyllis was born in Middlebranch, Ohio, on April 25, 1942, to Jennie (Addessi) White and Joseph L. White.
Phyllis was mother to Andrea Marie, Joseph Andrew and a set of fraternal twins who died prematurely and await her in heaven. She raised her living children with love and devotion in Canton, Ohio with her husband Joseph.
As a nurse for nearly forty years, most of which were spent at Mercy Hospital in Canton, Phyllis was known for her diligence, intelligence, memory and skill. She spent the last fifteen years of her career at Mercy as a full-time psychiatric nurse. She served as an instructor at Mercy Hospital nursing school for a year after her own graduation in 1963 before her first nursing position at St. Anne Children’s hospital in Columbus, Ohio where she met her husband. In 1999 the nursing students at Walsh University granted her an award as a Nurse Mentor, thanking her for encouraging excellence in nursing education.
Phyllis was a devoted member of the Eucharistic Fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order (OFS) for which she served as minister (leader) for four years. Phyllis was an avid reader of countless books of various genre over the years and enjoyed cooking and baking. According to her loving family she made “the best red velvet cake in the world,” a recipe she inherited and improved on from her mother. She was most proud of her dear husband of 57 years, her children, grandson and her large extended family whose names, birthdays and relationships she kept always in loving memory.
Phyllis’ devotion to her family, was rooted in her life as a devout practicing Roman Catholic. She was very active in parish life as a young mother at Our Lady of Peace (Christ the Servant) Parish. She served as a lector at Mass, girl scout leader and leader of the annual parish picnic for many years. One of the highlights of her life was attending a private Mass and audience in the papal apartment in Rome, Italy with St. Pope John Paul II in 1998. In her later years she was a regular Mass attendee with her husband at Sancta Clara Monastery in Canton. She was greatly devoted to God through daily prayer and reception of the Sacraments of the Church. She had great affection for our dear Poor Clare Nuns of Perpetual Adoration whom she considered extended family.
Phyllis is survived by her husband Joseph Charles, daughter Andrea Marie Reddest of Akron, Ohio, her son Rev. Fr. Joseph Andrew Tuscan, OFM Cap., of Pittsburgh, PA, her grandson Chante’ Michael Tuscan Reddest of Akron, Ohio, her siblings Joseph White, Ursula Haught, Paul Bianchi and many beloved cousins, in-laws, nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian burial will be held at Sancta Clara Monastery on (Date of Funeral) at (Time of Funeral).
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Sancta Clara Monastery.
Arrangements:
Rosary and wake at Wackerly Funeral home on Market Avenue
OFS wake and Funeral Mass at Santa Clara Monastery
Burial Northlawn Cemetery
Mercy meal at Christ the Servant Parish Hall, catered by Skyland pines.
