In Memory of

Evelyn

J.

"Evvie"

Smith

(Brunette)

Obituary for Evelyn J. "Evvie" Smith (Brunette)

Smith, Evelyn J. (nee Brunette)
Evvie, as most people called her, found peace on January 28, 2016. She was born in Marquette, MI, where she lived with her mother and then grandmother as well as various orphanages until the age of 14. She was then taken in by the nuns at Sister of Our Lady of Charity convent in Green Bay, WI, where she excelled in her studies and was given a scholarship upon high school graduation to St Norbert’s College. She graduated from SNC in 1959 with a Speech and Drama Major. She married her SNC sweetheart, Don (aka ‘Stage Door Donny’), moved to Beloit, WI, and started a family with Don which turned out to be six children! Evvie was a 4thgrade teacher, did tutoring, and remained active in community theatre wherever they lived for they moved around to several WI and MI cities before settling into Wauwatosa in 1976
In 1977, Evvie went looking for the nearest community theater and found the Village Playhouse of Wauwatosa. Attending auditions, she discovered it was not a workable board so she met with some ladies from the defunct organization and revived the VPW which is going strong to this day. She served as the VPW president off and on for many years as she was needed.
A few years later, Wauwatosa Recreation Department hired Evvie as a drama teacher for the children’s program which she headed for many years. She was the famous ‘Storybook Princess’ for the Saturday Children’s show for 25+ years, where she weekly introduced the show and afterwards, decorated the children with sparkles and stickers, only retiring in 2014. She continued to as a director for the Children’s Theater, directing plays for the younger children and the Teen Troupe. Evvie said it was a thrill to give of her abilities and love of theater to children and see them become confident and creative in their own right.
Evvie remained active in the Catholic Church with teaching religious education classes for many years and was the Director of Religious Education in two parishes. She served on the Pastoral Council Board in her current parish for years as well as was a Eucharistic Minister and choir member. She directed the Children’s Christmas Play each December at St Pius X and helped bring the story to life. She also directed the teens to perform the Passion Play on Palm Sunday for several years while working with the high school religious education classes.
In 1979, needing additional funds to send her children to Catholic schools, Evvie took the tax preparation courses offered by H&R Block. She passed with flying colors and worked as a tax specialist until very recently.
Evvie’s friends told her again and again that she had a generous heart and sparkling spirit that was very much alive and that she should keep singing, acting, directing, organizing, ministering and sharing who she is with others. She loved to wear sparkly things and loved the saying, “Never let anyone dull your sparkle!” Even if you only met Evvie once or twice, you know this is true.
She is survived by her husband, their 6 children, 6 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild.
Funeral to be held at St Pius X Parish, 2506 Wauwatosa Avenue, Wauwatosa, WI, 53213, on Saturday, February 6, 2016. A condolence hour will precede the mass which begins at 11:00 am.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Evvie’s name to St Pius X would be appreciated.

Schramka Funeral Home
Serving the Family
Milwaukee, WI 53218
(414)464-4040
www.schramkafuneralhome.com