Phyllis Ann Walsh

Phyllis Ann Lapolla Walsh, 92, of Naples, FL, peacefully went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, March 14, 2018 after a short struggle with cancer.

A Funeral Mass will be held in her honor at St. Agnes Church, 7775 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Naples, 34120, Monday, March 26th at 11:00 AM. A reception following the service will be held at the Naples Beach Hotel and Golf Club, 851 Gulf Shore Boulevard North, Naples, 34102 from 1:00-3:00 pm.

Phyllis Ann Lapolla was born in New Canaan, CT, January 30, 1926, the daughter of the late Charles Lapolla, Sr. and Teresina Venazia. She had 3 brothers; the late Louis Lapolla, Charles Lapolla, Jr. and John Lapolla also of New Canaan. She was married to Donald F. Walsh on January 22, 1949 at St. Aloysius Church in New Canaan. After forty-seven years of a beautiful marriage her husband, Donald, preceded her in death Oct 9, 1996. Together, they lovingly raised a wonderful family of 7 children; Jacqueline Steigleman of Sherman, CT, Lynn Hushion, Elizabeth Williams and Teresa Banks all of Naples, Timothy Walsh and Patricia Ammerman both of Raleigh, NC, and a son, the late Donald Walsh, Jr. “Nina,” as the grandchildren would call her, was the beloved Grandmother of 10 grandchildren, 2 step grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.

A 1943 graduate of New Canaan High School, Phyllis went on to graduate from The Pennsylvania School of Horticulture for Women (PSHW)Class of 1945. The PSHW was one of the first schools in the U.S. established for women in the industry and played an exclusive role in women’s horticultural and garden history. PSHW was instrumental in the establishment of the Garden Club of America and the National Women’s Horticultural and Agricultural Association.

Phyllis’ career spanned many decades in the Horticulture and Floral business. Together with her late husband, Donald, they owned Ridgeway Flowers in Stamford, CT and Lapolla and Walsh Florist and Greenhouse in New Canaan. Her expertise and love of gardening, landscape design, plants, and flowers brought great joy to her community, friends, and family. She was an avid golfer and belonged to Silvermine Golf Club in New Canaan and Cypress Woods Golf and Country Club in Naples. She was a devoted member of St Aloysius Church in New Canaan and St. Agnes Church in Naples.

Phyllis will be laid to rest next to her beloved husband, Donald and son, Donald, Jr. at Lakeview Cemetery in New Canaan in May.

“You will go out with joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst out in song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.” Isaiah 55:12

“Our family will always carry the memory of your love in their hearts.”