Phyllis L. Gerringer

Olean- Phyllis Lorraine (Besecker) Gerringer, 89, of 1670 Haskell Parkway, Olean passed away Wednesday (April 19th, 2023) at home with her children close by.

Born September 26th, 1933, in Kane, PA., she was the daughter of the late Francis and Doris (Ellithorp) Besecker.

In 1942, her family moved to Olean, and in 1953, Phyllis graduated from Olean High School. She then attended nursing school at Our Lady of Victory Hospital in Tonawanda. After graduating, Phyllis moved back to Olean and worked for the former St. Francis Hospital for one year.

Phyllis married John Gerringer, her soulmate, on Sept. 25, 1954, in St. Bonaventure Church, Allegany.

John and Phyllis started a family in Olean and built their forever home on the Haskell Parkway, where they raised their five children.

Phyllis worked for the Portville Central School District for eight years once her children started attending school there.  Later, she became part owner and worked at Besecker & Coss Service in Olean, until her retirement in 1998.

She was the President of Portville JCC and a member of Holiday Rambler from Pennsylvania.  Phyllis and John also enjoyed square dancing with Enhanced Mountaineers of Olean. She and her husband enjoyed traveling around the United States with their RV group.   They also traveled to many other countries. John and Phyllis were "Winter Birds" and went to Florida every winter.  

She enjoyed campfires, playing bingo at the Weston Mills Fire Hall, reading, and playing cards with friends.   Most of all, Phyllis loved her family and supported everything they did. 

In addition to her husband, John, of 69 years, she is survived by; two daughters Rosalyn (Mike) Zalepa of Marshburg, PA, Charmaine (Tom) Bean of Cuba; three sons, Matt (Pam) Gerringer of Folly Beach, S.C., Mike (Sue Howard) of Weston Mills, and John (Michelle) Gerringer of Olean; nine grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. Phyllis will be sadly missed by; her two brothers, Ray (Diane) Besecker of Syracuse and Charles (Dee) Besecker of Roanoke, VA; two sisters-in-law, Sue Freaney and Marilu Gerringer; and several nieces and nephews. 

She was an inspiration to her family and will be remembered for her laugh and everything she taught them.

Friends will be received at the Guenther Funeral Home, Inc., 1303 E. State Street on Tuesday from 4-7 pm.  A mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday (April 26, 2023) at 10 am at the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels, 201 S. Union Street, Olean. Her burial will be in St. Bonaventure Cemetery, Allegany.
Memorials, if desired, may be made to Cattaraugus County Meals on Wheels, 1 Leo Moss Drive, Olean.

Online condolences can be expressed at www.guentherfh.com.