Phil Rosseno

Phillip was the fourth child of Michael and Theresa Rosseno. They lived in Baltimore, Maryland in a row house and were poor raising six children. In 1932 they decided to move to Los Angeles. Uncle Sam did the driving of the 1920’s delivery van with a total of nine people. This must have been some adventure. Uncle Sam drove very fast over the mountains and almost drove off the cliff. The kids were very scared. All the kids had to pee in a pot so that they didn’t have to stop so often. They lived in Los Angeles on 110th Street. There was a large yard in which all the kids played. Phillip and Andy made a chair with a hole at the bottom and took a thorn off their large tree and stuck it in the hole. They called this the electric chair! The boys also made a scooter by nailing skates to a wooden box. During those years they were poor raising a lot of kids. Phillip and his family often drove to Orange County to pick oranges and walnuts. They sold them in bags around the neighborhood which helped the family in hard times. His mother made spaghetti on Thursdays and Sundays. Her other specialties were polenta, eggplant, chicken soup, peas and macaroni, roasted peppers, pizza and homemade bread.

They moved to 81st Street in Los Angeles where Phil attended Bret Harte Jr. High School. After that he went to Fremont High School. His sister Lillian was in the hospital with diphtheria at sixteen years old so the kids were in quarantine and to keep busy they had to paint the fence. Phil and Andy also worked in a shoe repair shop when they were kids.

On October 8, 1946 his baby sister Natalie was born. In 1948 his parents bought property in Sylmar, CA which had five acres of olive trees and grapes. They called it the “ranch.” Phil and his father picked olives which they sent to the Fusano Olive Factory. They brought it back home in 5-gallon cans and stored it in glass bottles. He also helped his father make his own wine with a press in the backyard and they stored it in barrels under the garage.

Phillip worked at a plating shop before he got married to Patricia Ann Paulas in 1949. He was nineteen years old. In 1951 Linda Marie was born and Timothy Phillip in 1955 while living in Los Angeles. They settled in Torrance in the early sixties. In 1971 Phillip became a grandfather when his daughter Linda had her first son Leo Jr. and in 1974 had Phillip Daniel. Phillip’s son Tim had his son Nicholas in March 1990. Phillip had two great grandchildren, Brooke and Shawn.

Phillip enjoyed remodeling his home which was his pride and joy and was very proud of his accomplishments. His vocation was in sheet metal and made a career of it until he retired in 1994. After retiring Phillip traveled and did some remodeling. In 1997 his wife Pat become ill and passed away.

After taking sometime to settle Phillip connected with Pat and they married in 2001. After an amazing wedding and reception at Dale and Natalie’s home they did a lot of traveling and settled into a comfortable retired lifestyle enjoying family and grandchildren. Over the years his home became the Christmas destination with lights and big trees. He enjoyed having all of the family at the house to celebrate Christmas.

In 2011 Phillip and his grandson Leo Jr. connected and became horse racing partners on weekends. They enjoyed watching sports and wagering on the races. Leo became close with his grandfather and enjoyed his company for weeknight dinners and conversation at home.

In 2011 Phillip’s health started declining. He continued to travel and once he started dialysis he wasn’t able to travel anymore. He enjoyed gatherings at his residence with friends and family and trips to the horse races. His remaining years were surrounded by friends and family. In spite of his handicaps he was sharp and still had a zest for life and was happy.

We know you are resting in peace with your loved ones in heaven. Rest in peace our beloved husband, father, brother, and friend.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations are made to the National Kidney Foundation: https://www.kidney.org/donation