It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Phyllis Persha, 76, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, on September 15, 2025. Phyllis was surrounded by her loved ones when she passed peacefully in her sleep.
Phyllis was born September 10, 1949 in Chicago,Illinois. In 1977, she married her loving husband Bob, whom she met while working at the Illinois Central Railroad Company. Purchasing their house in Paducah, they soon made it a home with three kids. Phyllis enjoyed listening to the radio while watching her kids play. She would often participate in the talk show games the radio would host. Phyllis was always the nurturing soul who made everyone feel at home, truly personifying the role of 'mom to everyone.’
Phyllis had many hobbies that poured out into her children's lives as they grew up. Being a very active participant in her children's extracurricular activities, she loved coaching her daughters’ softball teams, competing in her son’s Boy Scout annual chili cookout, and instructing kids in the community on how to bowl. After being given the title ‘Granny’ in ‘94, she passed on her artistic passions to her grandkids through art and music.
Growing up in the countryside of Chicago with seven brothers shaped her into an avid lover of the outdoors. In her spare time, while her kids were away at school and her husband at work, Phyllis enjoyed fishing at Kentucky Lake and bringing them home to cook.
Phyllis is survived by her husband of 47 years, Robert Persha; two daughters, Suzanne (Alex) Carlucci and Melissa Persha; one son, Michael Persha; one sister, Margaret (Jeff) Schoendorf; two brothers, Chuck (Sue) Waitekus and Jimmy (Linda) Waitekus; and six grandchildren, James Tyler Shaddix, Raven Noel Perkins, Samantha Perkins, Brant Perry, Ryan Carlucci, and Nickolaus (Elizabeth) Persha.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas B. Waitekus and Beatrice Paige Waitekus; five brothers, David Waitekus, Bob Waitekus, Danny Waitekus, Thomas Waitekus, and John Waitekus.
A funeral service will be held at 2 P.M. Saturday, September 20, 2025 at the Milner and Orr Funeral Home of Paducah with Rev. Mark Delaney officiating. Visitation will begin at noon and continue until the service starts at 2 P.M.
Expressions of sympathy may take the form of gifts to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105 or to the Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center, 2220 Pierce Ave Suite 1710, Nashville, Tennessee 37232.
Share a memory or leave an encouraging message for the family at www.milnerandorr.com.
