Phyllis Antognozzi

Phyllis (Ferenziana) Antognozzi, 92, was a bright light wherever she went. Born and raised in Chisholm, she married the love of her life, John Antognozzi, in 1957. Together, they raised their three daughters in Buhl, where Phyllis made her home until moving to the Benedictine Health Center in Duluth in 2021.

Phyllis was devoted to her Catholic faith, which served as a source of strength throughout her life. She treasured the Our Lady of the Sacred Heart church community and found great joy in worship and singing in the choir. Her family was always at the center of her world. She cherished the time she spent with loved ones and maintained close relationships with her sisters, her large extended family, and many lifelong friends.

If Phyllis had a superpower, it was her pen. She never forgot a birthday or anniversary, making sure family and friends alike received a handwritten card each and every year. The cards were a special expression of her thoughtfulness and a reminder of just how much each person mattered to her.

She was well-known for her delicious homemade raspberry jam and for her love of music, and will be remembered for how she brightened the lives of those around her. Phyllis leaves behind a legacy of love, faith, friendship, and family traditions that will live on for generations. She will be deeply missed.

Phyllis is survived by her three daughters, Lisa Luschen, Mary (Michael) Sperle-Nelson, and Laura (Jeffrey) Peck; ten grandchildren, Robert (Nadia), Michael, Elizabeth (Will), Lauren, Ellie (Gage), Benjamin (Jesse), Tony (Sarah), Rachael (Tim), Alex (Sara), and Francesca (Jack); 13 great-grandchildren; her cousin, Gina Baron; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, John Antognozzi; her parents, Nazzareno and Fondina Lautizi; and her siblings, Romaldo Lautizi, Fred Lautizi, Dionilla Valentini, and Florence Martarano.

The family extends heartfelt thanks to the staff at Benedictine Health Center and Ecumen Hospice for the loving care and attention they provided during Mom's final years. You were truly wonderful.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Ecumen Hospice in Phyllis’s memory.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, November 12, 2026, at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in Buhl, MN. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service and from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, at the Rupp Funeral Home in Chisholm, MN. A prayer service will be held at 6:30 p.m. on November 11, 2026 at the Rupp Funeral Home in Chisholm, MN.