Obituary of Phyllis M. Matta
Phyllis M. Matta
Olean, NY Phyllis M. Matta, 89, of 350 Front St. entered peacefully into the arms of her Lord on Wednesday (February 21, 2018) at the Olean General Hospital.
Born January 19, 1929 in Portville she was the daughter of Lloyd and Beatrice Peterson Gayton. She was formerly married to her beloved Edgar Parks, Jr. who passed away in recent years. Later in life she married Gregorio Matta Melendez.
Phyllis was a 1949 graduate of Olean High School and she enjoyed playing basketball at the school. She had an extensive career in the health care field, having worked most of that time for the ReHabilitation Center in Olean from which she retired. Prior to that she worked at both the former St. Francis Hospital and St. Joseph's Manor as well as the Olean General Hospital.
She was a member of Sacred Temple Church of God in Christ in Olean. She enjoyed watching sports, especially the St. Bonaventure Bonnies and the Buffalo Bills.
Surviving are 4 children Jacqueline (James) Engelhardt of Fairfax City, VA, Gary (Cindy) Parks of Olean, Stephen (Tammy) Parks of Olean and Jennifer (Harry) Wood of Forestville, MD; 17 grandchildren; several great grandchildren; a daughter-in-law Anne Parks of Olean; many nieces and nephews, including her beloved nephew James Gayton of Olean and her "daughter" in Christ Tonya Slack.
She was predeceased by a son Michael "Mickey" Parks; a grandson Michael Parks, Jr. and 5 siblings James Gayton, Connie Gayton, Joyce Daniels, Gerald Gayton and Arnold Gayton.
Friends will be received on Sunday from 5-7pm at the Casey, Halwig & Hartle Funeral Home, 3128 W. State Rd., Olean. Funeral services will be held Monday (February 26, 2018) at 11am in the funeral home. Rev. Gerald Slack and Rev Steven Patrick will co-officiate. Burial will be in Chestnut Hill Cemetery, Portville.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The ReHabilitation Center, 1425 Buffalo St., Olean, NY 14760.
