Evelyn Frances Walla

It is with sadness that we announce the peaceful passing of Evelyn Walla, 94, on November 13, 2024 at Mill Gardens Assisted Living in Midland Park, NJ. She is predeceased in death by her loving husband of 38 years, Robert (Bob) Walla. Evelyn missed him every day after his death in 1990.

She is survived by her three daughters: Marianne DeBow (Michael), Barbara Tomsey (Joseph), Carol Donnelly (Jack), six grandchildren: Jennifer, Elizabeth, Matthew, Alexander, Avery, and Sarah, six great grandchildren: Jack, Noah, Lucas, Benjamin, Landon and Noelle, and her brother Vincent and sister-in law Lois, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Evelyn was born in 1930 in Brooklyn, NY to Mae and Vincent Gryszkiewicz. She lived upstairs from her beloved grandparents “Babci and Dziadek”, and close to numerous aunts, uncles and cousins while growing up. Because of that formative experience, Evelyn often spoke about the importance of family.

She attended PS 105 Elementary and Fort Hamilton High School. Upon graduating high school in 1948, Evelyn worked at International Nickel Company on Wall Street as a stenographer. She met the love of her life, Bob Walla, in 1950 at a wake for his grandfather. Evelyn and Bob married two years later in 1952. Evelyn left International Nickel Company in 1955 prior to the birth of her first child.

Evelyn lived in Brooklyn until 1966 when she, Bob and their three girls moved to what Evelyn referred to as ‘the sticks’, the new Thornwood Hills development in Congers. As all the families moved into the development around the same time, Evelyn and the other mothers quickly bonded - enjoying each other’s friendship over their morning coffee klatches hosted by a different household each week. Evelyn, Bob and other neighbors successfully fought Reynolds Metal Company from building a factory in Congers in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s.

In her later years, Evelyn enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren, even attending an opera with all of them. When not taking in a show, Evelyn was a voracious reader often visiting the library to pick up the latest best seller. For the past 12 years, Evelyn lived at an assisted living facility in NJ where she enjoyed singing along to the afternoon musical entertainment and winning her weekly bingo games. She was an early member of the weekly Rosary Rallies, always keeping her family in her prayers.

Visitation scheduled for Higgins Funeral Home, Michael J. Higgins Funeral Service Inc.- 321 S. Main St, New City, NY 10956 on Sunday, November 17, 2024 from 3:00pm-7:00pm

Funeral mass at St Francis of Assisi Church- 128 Parrot Rd, West Nyack, NY on Monday, November 18, 2024, at 11:30am.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association in Evelyn Walla’s memory at alz.org