Phyllis LaGrande

LIMA -- Phyllis Mae LaGrande of Lima, 79, passed away at 4:45 PM on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, at Mercy Health - St. Rita's Medical Center.

Phyllis was born on June 7, 1946, in Rockford, Illinois, to Ralph F. and Lorraine M. (Anderson) Anderson, both of whom preceded her in death.

On June 22, 1968, she married her high school sweetheart and the love of her life, Charles N. LaGrande, who survives her in Lima. Phyllis was a 1964 graduate of Rockford East High School. In 1965 she graduated from Milwaukee Accredited School of Beauty Culture and worked as a cosmetologist in Rockford until 1968, when she and her husband moved to Kent, Ohio, where her husband accepted a position as a teaching assistant in the Department of Germanic and Slavic Languages at Kent State University. In 1969 the couple moved to Ottawa, Ohio, where her husband started a German program at the Ottawa-Glandorf High School. While in Ottawa, she taught cosmetology at Fredrick's Beauty College in Lima and served a term on the Ottawa Park Board. In 1973 the couple moved to Schwerte, Germany, where they lived for two years. In 1975 they returned to Ohio, when her husband accepted a position at Shawnee Schools in Lima. In the 1980s Phyllis returned to school to earn her associate's degree from Lima Technical College in respiratory therapy. She worked as a Respiratory Therapist at St. Rita's Medical Center for several years. Phyllis went on to continue her career as a Bridal Consultant for Don Johnson's Florist from the early 1990s until the early 2000s. Ever the hard worker, she ended her working career as a Teacher's Aide at Elmwood and Shawnee Middle School, starting in 2005 and retiring in 2008. She was an avid Chicago Cubs fan, a Shawnee basketball fan, and, most of all, a Shawnee soccer fan. A talented athlete herself, she was an accomplished ice skater, bowler, water skier, and synchronized swimmer. She enjoyed performing at the Encore Theater. She was a talented baker, especially when it came to making Christmas cookies. Above all, Phyllis loved to spend time with her family, especially playing in her later years with her grandchildren.

In addition to her husband, Phyllis is survived by their son, Peter Charles (Heather R.) LaGrande; grandson, August P. LaGrande, granddaughter, Norah P. LaGrande; sister-in-law, Elizabeth C. (Dan) O'Leary; nephews, Timothy (Sandy) Fischer and Bradford (Sherrie) Thomas; nieces, Andrea Fischer, Tanya (Elizabeth Elsner) Fischer, and Mishelle Thomas, as well as several great nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her sisters, Susan L. Anderson and Joanne K. Thomas; brothers-in-law, John P. LaGrande, William Hipkiss, and David Thomas, as well as her parents-in-law, Norman A. LaGrande and Jane P. LaGrande.

The LaGrande family wishes to extend its profound and sincere gratitude to St. Rita's Medical Center, to Otterbein Cridersville and to their physicians, nurses, therapists, and technical staff for their most diligent efforts to help and comfort Phyllis, especially during her final days.

Funeral services will be held at 7:00 PM on Wednesday, September 3, 2025 at Chiles-Laman Funeral & Cremation Services, Shawnee Chapel, with Rev. Steve Nelson officiating. Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM until the time of the service at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Alzheimer's Association, Shawnee High School Soccer, or St. Luke's Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.chiles-laman.