Philip Joseph Alosi passed away at the age of 90 on August 5, 2011, surrounded by his family at Saint Louise Regional Hospital after suffering a fractured hip and an undiagnosed heart condition.
He is survived by his second wife Colleen, daughters Rosanne Alosi Hernandez (Ted), Jeanette Alosi, and son Anthony Alosi (Claudia), stepdaughters Elizabeth Schneider and Linda Tucker and their families, grandchildren Bobby Sullivan (Kim), Carolyn Rios (Albert), Philip Alosi (Kandice), and great-grandchildren Grace, Anthony, Valentino, Xavier, and Desiree. He is also survived by his brother Joseph Alosi (Vica) and his family. Philip also had a very large extended family with many other nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents Antonio and Gracie Alosi, his first wife Grace Alosi, son-in-law Michael Gillis, stepdaughter Nancy Thomas (Arthur), and stepson James Tinker.
Philip was born December 10, 1920, in Boston, MA. When he was a teenager, the family moved to Susanville before settling in Morgan Hill. Philip, however, joined the US Army and served in the 94th Engineer Aviation Topographic Brigade in World War II. During his service he received the World War II Victory Medal, the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal.
After an honorable discharge, he came home to Morgan Hill to work on the family farm growing prunes, apricots, and walnuts. He met and married Grace Puliafico on October 27, 1946, and they started a family in 1950. He was master of all trades and constructed his family house.
Philip and Grace began a family tradition of Sunday Breakfast with homemade waffles, bacon, fresh fruit, and jam from the backyard garden; they shared many wonderful years before Grace’s passing in 1983 after which Philip continued the family tradition.
In 1986 Philip married Colleen Tinker. They shared many memories together, including baking dozens of cookies for Christmas, making pastas and jams, and even canning 60 quarts of homemade tomato sauce in one season. They also very much enjoyed spending time with their dog Crumpet and cat Angel.
Philip spent many hours tinkering in his workshop and tending to his vegetable garden and fruit trees; he took great pleasure in sharing his bountiful harvest with everyone. Their home was always open for family birthdays and holidays—it was the family gathering place.
His gentle and kind spirit touched everyone he met. He was always willing to lend a helping hand in any way he could, and he saw the good in every person he met. He was a sweet, generous, hard-working, honorable, loving man. Philip continued to host the Sunday Breakfast for family and friends, for anyone and everyone even up until the week before his death. He will be greatly missed. We will always love you Papa.
Visitation will be on Friday, August 12, 2011, at Johnson Funeral Home (17720 Monterey Road, Morgan Hill) from 5:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. with a vigil starting at 7:00 P.M. The funeral mass will be celebrated on Saturday, August 13, 2011, at 12 Noon at St. Catherine’s (17400 Peak Ave, Morgan Hill) with interment to follow at Saint Mary Catholic Cemetery in Gilroy.
