Phyllis Ann (Crangi) Bacic

Phyllis Ann Crangi Bacic, 86, of Arizona Traditions in Surprise, AZ, passed away on January 1, 2022. She was surrounded by her family.

Born on April 28, 1935, to Phillip and Anna Crangi in New Castle, Pennsylvania, Phyllis graduated from Beaver Falls High School.  She then obtained her nursing degree at St. Joseph's Nursing School and embarked on her multi-decade nursing career as an RN.

Phyllis married her high school sweetheart of 65 years, Donald Bacic. They lived in Koppel, PA until they moved to Renton, WA in 1961 where she worked as a full-time nurse while raising her family of five children.  Phyllis and Don made Arizona Traditions their permanent home in 1997.

Her 35-year nursing career included her role as a trauma nurse at Renton Hospital and Valley Medical Center in Kent, WA where she spearheaded the first Emergency Room Triage center in the state of Washington.

Phyllis was committed to her Catholic faith and community in her everyday life and acts of service. As active parishioners at St. Anthony's Parish in Renton, Phyllis and Don sent all five children to the Catholic school.

Phyllis and Don were active parishioners at St. Claire of Assisi Catholic Church in Surprise where she was actively involved with the St. Vincent de Paul Society. In her role, Phyllis provided numerous services to those in need including supporting addicts with rehab, conducting hundreds of home visits, delivering food, holiday meals, and Christmas gifts, and acting as a financial consultant and job counselor.  Phyllis and her St. Vincent de Paul friends were always there to help those in need. She was instrumental in creating and facilitating a Home Visit Program offering training to other volunteers of St. Vincent de Paul.

Phyllis lived life full of curiosity and passion. She loved the outdoors, swimming, fishing, hiking, camping, and cross-country skiing. She was an active member for 24 years in the Arizona Traditions community playing pickleball, water volleyball and coordinating her and Don’s famous annual Bocce Ball Tournament.  Over the years, family and friends will attest to Phyllis’s amazing Italian cooking where they would gather at her table for red wine and the “best food they ever had.”  She loved polka dancing with Don and gathering family and friends to listen to him play the accordion, and it was extra special during Easter and Christmas with her home beautifully decorated for the holidays. 

Phyllis is survived by her beloved husband, Don (90) and her five children Dawn Marie (Ronn) Garcia, Diane (John) Stephens, Donny (Sandi) Bacic, David (Kim) Bacic, Dolores (Vince) Shefler, 7 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren her sister Angela (Ken) Tannas and preceded in death by her brother Sam Crangi.

In lieu of flowers, donations are being accepted “In memory of Phyllis Bacic” at the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, 17111 West Bell Road, Surprise, AZ 85374.

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