Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Evelyn Joan McNamara


Evelyn Joan McNamara was born June 29, 1921. By her own account, she had a long, fulfilling and very happy life. But all excellent lives come to a close, no matter how private or illustrious. So it was with Evelyn Joan McNamara, who passed on this last Thursday, Nov. 5,, 2009, at the age of 88.

She was a resident of the Wood River Valley for only a few years, having moved from Scottsdale, Ariz., but loved the valley and its people immensely. Wherever she went, she was treated with great care and love. She spoke frequently about how amazing it was that one small place like this could hold so many excellent people.

Evelyn was the second daughter of Loretta and Frank Ellert of Chicago, Ill. Although her family was far from affluent, her memories of childhood were rich with love and excitement. She was only 9 years old when the depth of the Great Depression took hold of her community and the Ellert family. That experience certainly helped to mold her into the very frugal yet generous person she was to become.

Evelyn moved several times during her life. She was born in Chicago and it was there that she met her future husband, Walter F. McNamara. They were married in Oceanside, Calif., on Aug. 14, 1943, where Walt was stationed as a Marine second lieutenant awaiting orders to ship out to the Pacific theater of war during World War II. At war's end, she and Walt settled in Chicago to be close to family and friends. Their first son, Tom, was born in 1946 and was followed two years later by the second boy, Jack. Sadly, Tom died at age 12 of leukemia. After the family moved to California in 1957, a daughter, Mimi, came along in 1960 to the joy of all.

Evelyn was the quintessential family woman. She lived to make and hold together the most wonderful family life imaginable. All who met her came under her spell of infectious good humor and an extremely keen insight to good morals, manners and personal development. She was the person that strangers wanted to talk to and get to know. And literally thousands did. To say she will be missed is putting it lightly. Once in awhile we meet a person who truly enhances our life, who shows the way to real joy and who would do anything for us; Evelyn was that kind of person.

Remaining yet awhile as Evelyn passes on are her son, Jack; daughter, Mimi; grandson, Connor; and granddaughter, Kara. We will miss you.

A memorial mass will take place at Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Church on Sun Valley Road at 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13, 2009.




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