Obituary for Felicia "Phyllis" Mary Baton (Lebejko)
Felicia “Phyllis” Mary (Lebejko) Catto Baton, 97, passed away peacefully at L&M Hospital on April 16,2021.
She was born in Norwich, CT to Thomas and Mary Lebejko. She was next to the youngest of five brothers and two sisters, and first in her family to graduate from high school at Norwich Free Academy (NFA) Class of 1941.
She was united in marriage to her first husband, Clifford Catto, and lived in Westerly before settling in Ashaway where they brought up two children, Margaret “Peggy” and Thomas “Tom”. Her passions were walking, gardening, cooking, classical music and reading.
She volunteered for 30 years at Ashaway Free Library. Sundays for many years were spent at her N. Wawecus Hill homestead with family and friends.
Widowed at the age of 44, she worked at Smith’s Florists as the office manager. She was united to her second husband, Donald Baton, five years later after meeting at an Our Lady of Victory Church social function. They continued living in Ashaway and for 17 years wintered in Florida. They also traveled to Barbados, California, Texas, Canada and all of New England. After 28 years of marriage, Felicia was widowed a second time. Up until the age of 92 she remained in Ashaway and continued to attend OLV Church as a devout parishioner for 71 years.
Her last five years were spent as a resident at The Elms in Westerly and most recently the Carriage House on The Elms campus where she was lovingly cared for.
She was predeceased by her two sisters, Adele Kornacki and Rose Lowell; and five brothers, Felix, Henry, William, Michael and Joseph Lebejko.
She is survived by her two children, Margaret “Peggy” Jansen and Thomas (Cynthia) Catto. She is also predeceased by her son-in-law Dale Jansen and step-daughter Carolyn Baton Garganese.
Phyllis also leaves her three grandchildren, Jennifer (Eric) Emerson, Shawn Jansen and Brandon Catto; her two great-grandchildren, Freya and Bjorn Emerson; two Goddaughters, Jane Leone and Carol Fontaine; 11 nieces and nephews; and several cousins.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10am on Friday at Our Lady of Victory Church, 169 Main Street, Ashaway. Burial will follow at First Hopkinton Cemetery, Chase Hill Road, Ashaway. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to The Ashaway Free Library, 15 Knight St., PO Box 70, Ashaway, RI 02804 in Phyllis’ memory. Gaffney-Dolan Funeral Home, 59 Spruce St., Westerly is in charge of the arrangements. For online condolences please visit www.gaffneydolanfuneralhome.com
She was born in Norwich, CT to Thomas and Mary Lebejko. She was next to the youngest of five brothers and two sisters, and first in her family to graduate from high school at Norwich Free Academy (NFA) Class of 1941.
She was united in marriage to her first husband, Clifford Catto, and lived in Westerly before settling in Ashaway where they brought up two children, Margaret “Peggy” and Thomas “Tom”. Her passions were walking, gardening, cooking, classical music and reading.
She volunteered for 30 years at Ashaway Free Library. Sundays for many years were spent at her N. Wawecus Hill homestead with family and friends.
Widowed at the age of 44, she worked at Smith’s Florists as the office manager. She was united to her second husband, Donald Baton, five years later after meeting at an Our Lady of Victory Church social function. They continued living in Ashaway and for 17 years wintered in Florida. They also traveled to Barbados, California, Texas, Canada and all of New England. After 28 years of marriage, Felicia was widowed a second time. Up until the age of 92 she remained in Ashaway and continued to attend OLV Church as a devout parishioner for 71 years.
Her last five years were spent as a resident at The Elms in Westerly and most recently the Carriage House on The Elms campus where she was lovingly cared for.
She was predeceased by her two sisters, Adele Kornacki and Rose Lowell; and five brothers, Felix, Henry, William, Michael and Joseph Lebejko.
She is survived by her two children, Margaret “Peggy” Jansen and Thomas (Cynthia) Catto. She is also predeceased by her son-in-law Dale Jansen and step-daughter Carolyn Baton Garganese.
Phyllis also leaves her three grandchildren, Jennifer (Eric) Emerson, Shawn Jansen and Brandon Catto; her two great-grandchildren, Freya and Bjorn Emerson; two Goddaughters, Jane Leone and Carol Fontaine; 11 nieces and nephews; and several cousins.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10am on Friday at Our Lady of Victory Church, 169 Main Street, Ashaway. Burial will follow at First Hopkinton Cemetery, Chase Hill Road, Ashaway. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to The Ashaway Free Library, 15 Knight St., PO Box 70, Ashaway, RI 02804 in Phyllis’ memory. Gaffney-Dolan Funeral Home, 59 Spruce St., Westerly is in charge of the arrangements. For online condolences please visit www.gaffneydolanfuneralhome.com