Phyllis "Penny" Samoil of Avenel passed away on June 17th, 2016, of complications from pneumonia. She was born on October 2nd, 1939, in Jersey City, to the late John Bresnock and the late Elizabeth Dougherty Bresnock Pauline. During her early years her family lived in Teaneck, NJ, and then she moved to Jersey City with her mother and brother. She graduated from Ferris HS in 1957.

In Jersey City she met Walter Samoil, and they married in 1958 and honeymooned in the Poconos. Their son Kenneth Scott was born in 1960 and their daughter Debra Lynn was born in 1961. They moved to Avenel in 1967. Penny had part-time jobs at S. Klein's and Middlesex Catering before retiring in the mid-1980's. She also served one year as president of the PTA at Avenel Jr. HS.

Penny enjoyed hosting big holiday dinners for her family (with enough food for several such dinners), visiting the Jersey Shore and the Outer Banks, traveling to new places, gardening, and sitting in the back porch with family or friends.

She was predeceased by her husband of nearly 52 years, Walter, in 2010. Penny is survived by her son, Ken Samoil (Rachel), daughter Debbie Ward (Brian), brother Dave Bresnock (Kathi), granddaughter Melissa Ward, grandson Corey Ward, step-mother Mimi Bresnock, brother-in-law John Frentzko, nephews Michael Frentzko (Cathlyn) and Brian Frentzko (Laura), niece Carolyn Gutch (Bobby), cousins, great-nephews, a great-niece, and many friends that she made in Avenel, Jersey City, the Jersey Shore, and other places that she had lived or visited .

Funeral services will take place on Tuesday, June 21, 2016 at 10:15 a.m. at Costello-Koyen Funeral Home ( www.costello-koyen.com ), 399 Avenel Street, Avenel. Interment will follow in Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens in Iselin. Visitation will be on Monday from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.