Phyllis Mary Bretches

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Phyllis Mary (Leonard) Bretches, a mother, artist, and dynamic person who touched the lives of everyone she met.
Phyllis was born in Antigo, Wisconsin, to Charles W. Leonard and Phyllis R. (Mattek) Leonard, both deceased. Her two brothers, Charles Jr. and Michael Leonard, also predeceased her.
As a child, Phyllis loved spending time at the family’s cottage on Bass Lake. An incredible slalom skier and swimmer, she was happiest near a body of water. In her adult years, she moved to La Crosse, Wisconsin, where the banks of the Mississippi River were always within reach.
Phyllis had two children, Zoey (Solin) Vecellio and her husband, Anthony Vecellio of Weston, Wisconsin, and Charles Bonin of Santa Cruz, California. She is also survived by her grandson, Jacob Miller of Oconto, Wisconsin (Zoey’s son). She never sheltered her children, instead exposing them to all life had to offer. You could find her taking them on long nature walks, dragging them to art fairs, folk festivals, Rendezvous, Renaissance Fairs, hot air balloon rides, bluff rappelling, or sneaking into hotels to swim in the wintertime. Phyllis loved life and threw the best birthday parties. She was known for her entertaining stories, most of which involved something she experienced firsthand.
Phyllis was a lifelong learner and held several college and technical degrees. She worked as an interior designer and tax preparer but always leaned on her artistic abilities, often creating intricate and large stained-glass pieces. Nobody could stretch a dime quite like Phyllis, taking the concept of a “starving artist” to a new level.
She loved photography, dancing, and acting, appearing in several productions at the La Crosse Community Theater. She also enjoyed the “hustle,” selling jewelry and ice cream from her beloved ice cream bicycle. Phyllis fully embraced all aspects of the arts, which was who she was at her core.
A Phyllis-Palooza will be held in Antigo, Wisconsin, in the springtime, her favorite season. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to your favorite charity supporting the arts, the Alzheimer’s Association, or your local humane society in honor of her love for animals.
It’s impossible to truly honor the memory of a loved one in a few short paragraphs. Phyllis was larger than life, passionate about everything, and often struggled to fit into society’s norms—that is her legacy.