Philagonas (Keberly) Evancic, 82, died Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2016 at her home in DuBois following a lingering illness.
Born in Merrittstown (Fayette), Pa., she was the daughter of the late Harold and Kathryn Keberly.
She is survived by her husband, Anthony H. Evancic, and two brothers, Charles (Carolyn) of Livonia, Mich., and Paul (Geraldine) of Lake City, Mich.
Mrs. Evancic was preceded in death by a brother, Edward, and a sister, Charlamagne Brandt.
She was a graduate of the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children, Pittsburgh, where she was a student from kindergarten through grade 12.
Soon after graduation from the school for blind children, she was employed there as a house mother. Later, she was elevated to the position of classroom teacher’s aide.
While working at the school during the day, she attended night classes at the University of Pittsburgh, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in elementary education.
She was then advanced to the position of classroom teacher. She worked in that capacity until her retirement in 1983.
Following her retirement, she moved to Michigan, where she lived near her brothers for a number of years.
In 2002, she returned to Pittsburgh and married Anthony Evancic, where they lived until moving to their present residence at The Cottages, Christ The King Manor, DuBois.
She will be remembered for her passion for baking fancy cookies during the Christmas season from family recipes handed down through the generations from the Old Country.
Although legally blind, Mrs. Evancic was very skillful with needle and thread, and everyone in the family remembers when she made them something nice to wear. She also made many of her own clothes.
Brothers, Charles and Paul will forever remember that as youngsters, on Christmas Eve, she would read to them in Braille the story of Lionel Electric Trains.
A private memorial services will be held at a later date.
Online condolences may be sent to www.gbfuneralhome.com.
The Goble Baronick Funeral Home Inc. is in charge of the arrangements.
