Evelyn Zylpha Surzyn

Mrs. Evelyn Zylpha Surzyn, age 96 and formally of Genoa City, WI, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, May 15, 2024. Evelyn was born in Fort Robinson, NB on January 25, 1928 to Mary Jane and Jewel Copeland.

Evelyn spent most of her younger years in Elgin and Hebron IL. She worked on several of the family’s dairy and crop farms through her high school years as the family farmhand kitchen cook and house cleaner in the 1930’s and 40’s. Evelyn married Frank A. Surzyn on Nov. 24,1948 and was happily married for 66 years until Frank’s passing in July 2013. Together they had one daughter, Cherie Madeline Surzyn (Silagyi) Bartel who presently resides in Fishers, IN. Evelyn graduated from the Milwaukee School of Beauty as a Beautician and Cosmetologist. She owned and operated The Petite Boutique Beauty Salon in Genoa City during the 60’s and 70’s.

Evelyn was an active member of the American Legion Auxiliary and The Lady Lion’s Club of Genoa. She also participated regularly in many other community and church events throughout her years in Genoa City. Her favorite hobbies were vegetable and flower gardening, canning, and arts and crafts of all kinds. During her later years her interests turned to jigsaw puzzles and adult coloring. Evelyn assembled and framed over 50 beautiful jigsaw puzzles and completed over one hundred adult coloring books.

In 1984 Evelyn and Frank moved to Monroeville, PA by their daughter Cherie and Husband John P. Bartel and played an active role in the lives of their grandchildren and extended family. Evelyn was a loving and devoted Mother and grandmother. Always available to help with family in any and every capacity.

Evelyn is preceded in death by her sisters, Mary Edna Pestor, Loraine York and Arita May Miller; brother, Jewel (Jay) Pester; son-in-law, John P. Bartel.

Evelyn leaves a hole in the hearts of a large and loving family, daughter, Cherie; grandson, Jarret A. (Lauren) Silagyi; great grandsons, Cade and Colson Silagyi; grandson, Nicholas J. (Emily)Bartel; great granddaughter, Lillian; grandson, Jon B. (Kathy) Bartel; great granddaughters, Brittany Bartel (Michael) Kotofsky; great granddaughter, Jennifer Bartel (James D.) McNamara; great great grandson, Mason; granddaughter, Brenda J. Bartel (Petrilena) (Lonnie)McDanel; great grandchildren, Nicole and Justin Petrilena and Jessica and Austin McDanel.

Evelyn passed away declaring that she had been blessed with a long, fruitful and happy life, married to a devoted husband and always surrounded with love from her daughter Cherie, family and friends. She will be truly missed by all.

A private family funeral will be held at Plum Creek Cemetery, 670 Center-New Texas Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15239 on Tuesday, May 28, 2024 at 12:00 pm.

The family sincerely thanks Ballard & Sons Funeral Home in Middletown, IN for their outstanding services, above and beyond.

Special thanks to Pastor Bob Schaefer of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church of Monroeville, PA for presiding over Evelyn’s continuing journey into Heaven.

Heartfelt thanks to Rev. Thomas S. McEwen. B. Th.: M. Div BCC of Life’s Journey Hospice, Avon, IN for giving great comfort to Evelyn during her stay in hospice and for providing the scriptures and prayers that he read to Evelyn and now provided for her funeral service.

The staff of Life’s Journey Hospice of Avon, IN is an extraordinary and dedicated group of Hospice caregivers whose compassion and care for the dying is comparable to none. I thank you all for that special care and comfort that you provided for me and my loving Mother during her last days of earthly life. Cherie Bartel

You may express condolences or share a memory of Evelyn at www.ballardandsons.com