Evelyn Ann Staskowski

Evelyn Ann Staskowski

1928 - 2024

Evelyn Ann was born on November 30, 1928 to Anna Polancewicz and Konstantine Chaplinski on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.  Their fourth child, Evelyn was a surprise arriving more than ten years after her brothers Stanley and Joseph and her sister Susan.  

The family moved to Brooklyn when Evelyn was three years old and Evelyn loved her childhood in there.  Often she told wonderful stories about the days of pushcarts, pickle barrels, lace shops, walks to the park, and outings with her older siblings.

After graduating from Franklin K. Lane High School, where she excelled academically, Evelyn went to work for Quality Bakers of America in Manhattan and bought her lunch at the Automat.

One Labor Day weekend she went to a dance where she met Joseph Edward Staskowski.  The following Labor Day weekend they were married and lived together for 69 years until her beloved spouse passed in September of 2018.

Evelyn and Joe lived in Ozone Park, New York after they married but soon after the birth of their daughter, Andrea, they moved to Valley Stream where they completed their family with two sons, Joseph Anthony and Thomas Joseph.  Evelyn loved, lived and thrived in her suburban home.  

Evelyn was the quintessential Polish Woman — a devoted wife, fiercely devoted mother, and an enthusiastic homemaker.  Hard working and full-throttle fun, everything Evelyn did, she did with gusto, and Evelyn did many, many things.  

. Evelyn was always cooking, from scratch with fresh food, for her family, extended family and friends.  She loved, loved, loved to entertain and hosted countless Christmas festivities, Easter dinners, Thanksgiving dinners, birthday day dinners, anniversary dinners and celebrations of all kinds for her wide circle of friends. Everyone was welcome at her table and she made everyone feel like they were a member of the family. Her warmth and generosity won her a place in the hearts of many. 

A prolific baker, she made cookies and cakes year-round but Christmas was a real extravaganza when she made as many as a dozen different varieties of cookies.  A    plate of her cookies were a treat people looked forward to all year long.  As well she made cupcakes for school events and was a chaperone on school field trips.

Whenever she sat down, Evelyn was sewing, crocheting, or knitting.  Everybody’s baby got a sweater and/or a blanket.  Her afghans keep people snug and cozy in many, many homes.

And Evelyn engaged in community service.  For ten years she was a volunteer at Franklin General Hospital, she was an election inspector, a Eucharistic Minister, she gave the elderly rides to the doctor and administered Communion in their homes.  She was also a cub scout den mother.  All the while she took on part-time work to provide extras for the family.

Evelyn loved to travel and explore new places.  She was the inspiration behind yearly family outings to historical locations such as Gettysburg, PA, Sturbridge Village, MA, and Niagara Falls and Florida.  The grand family outing was a cross country road trip to visit her sister Susan in California.  We crossed the Rockies, visited the Grand Canyon, Yosemite National Park, Disneyland, San Juan Capistrano and more.

Evelyn travelled to Europe multiple times with her husband, friends and relatives to Germany, Portugal, Italy, Hungary, and Poland. Solo, she made a Church sponsored trip to Italy and to Poland when it was behind the Iron Curtain.

When her first grandson, Brian was born in 1977 to son Joseph, Evelyn began her career as a Grandmother.  Granddaughter Tara arrived in 1979 and Evelyn happily cared to them and chauffeured them to events far and wide.  Tom’s children, Ruthanne and Kaiden, were born in 2002 and 2005.

Evelyn suffered a tragic loss with the death of her son Joe in 2016.  But she was blessed with Great Grandchildren.  Evelyn is survived by her daughter Andrea Staskowska, son Thomas Staskowski and his children, Ruthann and Kaidan. Grandson Brian and wife, Christine Chung, blessed her with their children Caralyn, Beiven, and Simon. Granddaughter Tara and spouse Erik Nakatuvicius blessed her with their children Elora, Emilia, and Ronan.  

Evelyn had a keen mind, was politically astute, and kept all of her faculties until she peacefully ascended to the heavenly realm at home surrounded by a trusted friend, her son and her daughter.

Evelyn had a motto:  Live simply; Give more; Expect less; Remove hatred from your heart; Remove worry from your mind. Live, Laugh, Love. Celebrate Life!!