Obituary: Phyllis S. DiNello (Porto Funeral Homes)

Phyllis S. “Auntie Phil” DiNello. 103, of West Haven passed away suddenly and peacefully in her sleep on October 1st 2026. She was married to Alec DiNello for over 60 years until his death in 2006. Born in Faicchio, Province of Benevento, Italy on April 3rd 1923 to the late Andrew (Ralph) Petrucci and Maria (Cusano) Petrucci, she came to America, via Ellis Island, on December 9th 1929 with her mother and older brother Anthony Petrucci. Her father was there to greet them and lead them to their home in New Haven where she lived until 1948 and then moved to her new home in West Haven, where she resided for the next 78 years, until her death. While attending Commercial High School she also began hairdressing school at the age of 16 and graduated from both in 1942. Upon graduation she immediately began her lifelong passion of hairdressing and continued to do so for the next 64 years until retiring at the age of 83. She loved caring for her family and keeping her home clean, however, her second passion was baking. She would make the typical assortment of Italian pies at Easter and baked over 25 different types of cookies for Christmas where she would then fill, wrap and distribute 30 dishes of cookies to family and friends along with making a huge tray of cookies for holiday visitors. Christmas, Palm Sunday and Easter were always celebrated with family and friends at her home. She will be forever known as a loving, compassionate person who loved children and who was loved by all who met her. She also became the adopted aunt of many loved ones, a role which she cherished.

She was predeceased by her brother, Anthony and sister-in-law Elinor Petrucci. She leaves behind one son Paul (Paula) DiNello of West Haven, nephews Paul (Marge) Petrucci, Michael (Tina) Petrucci and their families along with niece Theresa DiNello and many other nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews and godchildren.

Her funeral procession will leave the PORTO FUNERAL HOME, 830 Jones Hill Rd., West Haven Friday morning at 9:30. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in the Blessed Michael McGivney Parish at St. Anthony’s Church in New Haven at 10:00. Interment will follow in St. Lawrence Cemetery, West Haven. Family and friends may call THURSDAY from 4:00-7:00 PM. Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at stjude.org. Sign Phyllis's guest book online at www.portofuneralhomes.net.