Filomena “Phyllis” ( Camuso ) Lukasiewicz, age 104, formerly of Jamesville, NY and Johnston, RI, recently of Washington, DC, died peacefully on January 14, 2025.
Filomena was the loving wife for 47 years of the late Dr. Francis Augustine Lukasiewicz, O.D. Born and raised in Providence, RI, she was the daughter of the late Giovanni and Maria ( Masiello ) Camuso. She was pre deceased by her sister, Alessandrina E. Camuso of Johnston, RI and McLean, VA.
After graduating from Mt Pleasant High School, she obtained a business degree and then worked in bookkeeping/accounting at Marvel Jewelry Manufacturing in Providence, RI for over 20 years. After her retirement, she managed the office and accounts for her husbands’ optometry practice.
Filomena and her husband, Frank, lived in Johnston where they were active members of Our Lady of Grace parish. She was a member of the Madonna Della Difesa Society and assisted in planning & hosting the church festivals. She enjoyed crocheting, knitting, baking for family and for the church, bingo and water aerobics until she was 99 years old. Filomena had a heart of gold and was quick to assist family & friends in a time of need. Her incredible talent at sewing and generosity of donating her completed projects to anyone who requested was well known to the community.
Most of all, Filomena loved spending time with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She attended so many plays, musicals, concerts, religious events, sporting events and graduations and even danced in her wheelchair at her youngest grandsons wedding at age 103! She moved to the Syracuse, NY area at age 91 to be closer to family..
She weathered the pandemic with such patience and grace and when the NBC affiliate in Syracuse, NY was asked to mention her 100th birthday, they instead requested to present a special piece on the local news with family wishes from afar.
Filomena is survived by her children, Dr. Lisa Lukasiewicz Izant and her husband, Dr. Timothy Izant of Potomac, MD, formerly of Manlius, NY, and Paul Lukasiewicz and his wife, Gail, of Winfield, IL. She was the devoted grandmother of Jeffrey Jacob Izant and his wife, Kayla Tausche Izant of Washington, DC, Christopher Lukas Izant and his wife, Dr Kristen Keefe Izant of Ellicott City, MD, Matthew Timothy Izant and his wife, Sarah Owens Izant of Sacramento, CA, and Ryan Augustyn Izant and his wife Lauren Haller of Redondo Beach, CA, Jennifer (Lukasiewicz) Hunt and her husband, Cole of Franklin, TN and Melissa (Lukasiewicz) Bishop and her husband Garrett of Boulder, CO. She is also survived by her beloved great grandchildren, Catherine (CeCe), Grace, Margaret (Maisie), Stella, Natalie and James Izant and Ava and Owen Hunt.
Her family will never forget her kindness, gratitude and eternal love.
A memorial mass will be celebrated at a later date to be announced at her parish, Our Lady of Grace Church in Johnston, RI. Family and friends will be welcome to attend. A private family chapel service will be held at St Ann Cemetery in Cranston, RI
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Filomena's name to Crouse Hospital, Syracuse, NY @ Crouse.org, Our Lady of Grace Church, 4 Lafayette Street, Johnston, RI 02919-2712 or PACE CNY, Sally Coyne Center for Independence, 100 Malta Lane, North Syracuse, NY 13212.