Evelyn Marie Casivant, 83, of East Stahl Road in Ashley Falls, Mass., passed away peacefully Tuesday morning, May 19, 2015 at her home surrounded by her loving family.
Born in Astoria, New York on August 29, 1931 she was the daughter of Henry and Helen Miller Fuller. Along with her family Evelyn moved to Three Mile Hill in Great Barrington in 1942. She graduated from the former Dewey Grammar School and the former Searles High School in 1949 where she was the class treasurer.
On December 1, 1962 Evelyn married her husband, Marvin T. Casivant. The two were charter members of the former Grace Bible Church, now Greenwoods Community Church, in Ashley Falls. She was an extremely active member of the church, having served as the church treasurer from 1988 – 2015 and was a member of the choir for more than 35 years. Evelyn was a staunch supporter of the church and its missionary work. She was a missionary chairwoman for many years and gave generously of not only her time but also of whatever else was needed.
Evelyn retired in 1992 from the Corn Crib where she had worked for the past four years as a store manager and bookkeeper. Prior to that she worked as a store manager at DeVries Lumber in Sheffield; at Agway in Great Barrington (1965-1982) where she became the store’s first female manager; and Mount Everett Lumber Company and Howard Johnson in Lee (1958-1963) where she was the fountain manager.
She is survived by her two sons, Marvin H. Casivant and wife Olympia of Ashley Falls, Dennis W. Hankey and wife Lyn of Sheffield, and her daughter, Eileen Kellogg of North Egremont, Mass. She also leaves her stepdaughters, Susan Bateman and husband Charlie of Pittsfield, Mass., Jeanne Casivant of Rainsville, Ala., and Julie Burghardt of Bristol, N.H.; her brother Carl Fuller and his companion Paula Cleveland of Florida, her sister Doris Ptak of Housatonic; her grandchildren Demitri, Kosta, and Nikos Casivant, JoAnne and husband Lanny Broderick, Kelly and husband Greg Kilmer, Nicole and husband Bill Ciaccio, Tammy Kubik, Tommy Kubik, Thomas and wife Elizabeth Dennis and Gary Dennis; her great grandchildren Spencer and Mariah Broderick, Renee Ciaccio, and Thomas Dennis, Jr. and Susan Dennis; as well as her step grandchildren Tony, Justin, Meghan, Memphis, George, Gabriel and Melissa.
She was predeceased by her husband of forty years, Marvin T. Casivant on March 25, 2003, her daughter Susan Knuffke, her stepdaughter Michelle Clark and her step granddaughter Heather Clark.
A service celebrating Evelyn’s life will be held on Saturday, May 23, 2015 at 12 p.m. at FINNERTY & STEVENS FUNERAL HOME in Great Barrington, conducted by Rev. Rich Woodward. Burial will follow at the North Copake Cemetery in Craryville, N.Y.
The family will receive friends on Saturday from 11 a.m. until the time of the service.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Greenwoods Community Church Missionary Fund through FINNERTY & STEVENS FUNERAL HOME, 426 Main St., Great Barrington, MA 01230. Remembrances may be sent to her family through www.finnertyandstevens.com
