Obituary of Phyllis M. Cardiello

Phyllis Marie Cardiello, (née Comet), 104, passed away peacefully at home on December 10, 2025. She was born October 21, 1921, in Passaic, NJ to the late Ursulina (Lena) and Vincenzo (James) Comet. She married the love of her life, the late Joseph Cardiello, on November 1, 1947. They lived in a 6-family house on Montgomery Street in Jersey City for almost 50 years before moving to Cedar Knolls, NJ where she resided until her death.

Phyllis was the devoted mother of Carol and husband Dr. John Faillace, Frank and wife Carolyn, Robert and wife Janet, Mary Beth and husband (late) Terry Hull. She was the loving grandmother to Michele, Rachael, Robert, Cara, Melissa, Daniel, TJ, Ann, Ryan and Andrew. She was the adoring GiGi to Sienna, Aubrey, Lucas, Graysen, Cameron, Ian, Lana, Damian, Jack, Joseph, Mary, Teddy, Quinn, Connor and Declan. She was also pre-deceased by her brother George Comet.

Phyllis graduated from Passaic High School in 1940 and continued on to secretarial school. Her first job was as a legal secretary for two attorneys for whom she worked 5 1/2 days a week and was paid a total of $6.  She continued to work several different secretarial jobs over the years as well as volunteer as a Brownie leader and helper in the St Aloysius grammar school library until finally becoming a stay-at-home mom in the 70s. She did not, however, actually stay at home because Phyllis lived a life of service spending decades as the volunteer secretary for the “CCD” program of Saint Aloysius Church in Jersey City. She was in fact, their first recipient of the Centennial Aloysian Award for Volunteer Service.

Phyllis continued that life of service, even after relocating to Cedar Knolls where she volunteered for many years helping first graders learn to read and write at Mountview Road School. She started volunteering in 1997 when her granddaughter Ann was in the first grade and continued until her youngest grandchild Andrew finished first grade in June 2002.

Phyllis loved reading, baking, cooking, doing jigsaw puzzles, and playing board games, especially scrabble, but she particularly loved spending time with her family and feeding them until they could eat no more.

Phyllis was lovingly cared for these past nine years by caregivers Maria, Renata and Halina as well as, recently, by Atlantic Health Visiting Hospice nurses Gwen, Wendy, social worker Anne and hospice aide Leticia. Her family is deeply grateful for the devoted care all of these women provided.

Family and friends may visit on Tuesday, December 16 from 4 to 7 PM and Wednesday December 17 at 8:30AM (prior to the Funeral Mass) at Dangler Funeral Home 600 Speedwell Ave., Morris Plains, NJ 07950.

A Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, December 17 9:30 AM at Notre Dame of Mount Carmel Church 75 Ridgedale Ave., Cedar Knolls, NJ 07927. Burial immediately following at Holy Rood Cemetery, 61 Whippany Road, Morristown, NJ 07960.

In lieu of flowers, please consider financial donations to Atlantic Health Hospice Association/Atlantic Visiting Nurse 465 South Street, Suite 100A, Morristown, NJ 07960