Phyllis E. (Hoagland) Simione

Poland - Phyllis E. Simione, 97, of Poland, died Sunday evening, July 1, 2018 at St. Elizabeth Boardman Health Center with her family at her side.

Phyllis was born March 1, 1921 in Youngstown, a daughter of Ralph and Fern Williams Hoagland.

She was raised on the Southside of Youngstown and made her family home on Parkside Drive for many years before residing in Poland over 30 years ago.

At the age of 17 she met and married the love of her life, Angelo Dominic "Donn" Simione on March 13, 1939. Together they formed Uptown Checkered Cab company where Phyllis was the dispatcher. A very successful company with a fleet of cars, she and Donn were featured in Fortune 500 as one of the Top Entrepreneurs in the 1960's. For many years Phyllis' life was raising her family and working at the cab company. After Donn's passing in 1983 Phyllis sold the cab company and pursued her many interests.

Phyllis had an insatiable appetite for life and always said she began to live her teenage years at the young age of 61. She roller skated in the evenings, loved dancing to music and Ball Room dancing with friends and in the 1970's joined the Tapping Juliette's. Always an avid swimmer, Phyllis was very active in water aerobics. She walked the mall every morning until the age of 95 and was affectionately known as "the mall hugger." She believed that a good hug was a generous gift to others and in return gave her tremendous joy.

Phyllis enjoyed traveling, but her proudest moments was traveling with family to watch her youngest son, Donn, perform in a variety of musicals and shows on Broadway, and other venues across the United States and abroad.

Those who knew Phyllis will remember her uplifting, positive attitude, and her love of life, laughter and people.

She leaves her daughter, Joyce A. Masko of Boardman; four grandchildren, Charles and Nicholas Costello, Tanja Simione, and Rhonda Hanni; four great-grandchildren, Josh and Nicole Costello, and Jenna and Anthony Billet; and one great-great-grandchild, Jordyn Costello.

In addition to her parents and husband, Phyllis was preceded in death by her sons, Thomas and Donn Simione; and sisters, Juanita Robinson and LaVonne Whitley.

A service celebrating Phyllis' life will be held Friday, 1:00 PM at the Davis-Becker Funeral Home in Boardman with Pastor Greg Calko officiating. Entombment will follow at the Green Haven Memorial Gardens in Canfield.

Friends will be received Friday prior to services from 11:00 a.m. until 12:45 p.m. at the funeral home.