Casilda "Casi" Phelps

1930 - 2025

Born Casilda Frances Carey on October 10, 1930, in Brooklyn, N.Y., Casi was affectionally nicknamed "Bunny" as a baby by her older brother. The name stuck and endeared her to all she met for 95 years.

Bunny grew up in Miami, Fla., graduated from Miami High School in 1948 and went on to attend the University of Florida. Bunny cut her time at UF short to become a model in New York City, living with her aunt, Isabell Croce, on Park Ave.

After returning to Miami, Bunny married John J. Erick in 1951, and lovingly welcomed their son, John Joseph Erick, Jr. The couple divorced in 1954. In 1956, Bunny met Richard E. (Dick) Gerstein, who at the time was running to become the Florida State Attorney for Miami-Dade County. Bunny helped campaign with Dick and the two were married in August 1957, after he took office. The couple later divorced but continued to be life-long friends and Dick remained a steadfast father figure to Bunny's son, John. In 1971, Bunny married George W. Phelps, a real estate developer, and moved to Haines City, Fla. Following George's death in 1982, Bunny moved to Sarasota to be close to her mother and brother.

Bunny had a passion for travel and lived for a time in Malaga, Spain. She congregated groups of friends to visit the south of France and travel throughout the U.S., eventually turning her travel passion into a profession as a travel agent. Bunny grew an affinity for classical French cooking, which she mastered; and like her personality, was always able to transform something simple into something divine. Bunny had other careers as an interior designer and boutique co-owner in Miami, and a successful career in real estate in Sarasota where she was presented with the Million Dollar Circle Award in 1989. As talented and successful as she was, it was Bunny's role as a mother, daughter, sister, grandmother, aunt and friend where she shined her brightest.

Her constant smile was as infectious as her laugh and served as a window to Bunny's poised yet playful personality. Her life on earth is celebrated by her loving son, John Erick (Jen Price) of Solana Beach, Calif.; grandson Sean Erick of Encinitas, Calif.; former daughter-in law Debbie Guthrie Ferrell of Naples, Fla.; nieces Carol Carey Godwin of Charleston, S.C. and Lynne Marie Carey of San Francisco, Calif.; great-niece Lindsay Godwin Ram of Charleston, S.C. (Colin, Adeline, Riggs); cousins, friends and caregivers.

Preceded in death, Bunny will be rejoined in heaven with her parents William Frances Carey and Casilda Castaneda Carey; aunts Eva Castaneda Thorson and Isabell Castaneda Croce; brother and sister in-law, William Pershing Carey and Edna Hansen Carey; and granddaughter, Jade Alexandra Erick, who she loved dearly.