Evelyn McNamara, formerly of Oyster Bay, passed away peacefully in her sleep on April 7, 2013 at her son Steven’s house in West Milford, New Jersey, after a long illness.
Evelyn was born in Elmont on March 23, 1924 to Rose (Poklop) Prach and Dr. Thomas Prach. She graduated from Bayside High School and the Central Park School of the Arts. She was married to the late Thomas McNamara for 51 years and they were loving parents to six children: Thomas Jr. (Corinne), Pasadena, CA; Barbara Gibson (Gary), Mohnton, PA; Christopher, deceased (Christina) Boulder, CO; Mark (Shani), Merrick, NY; Steven (Lise), West Milford, New Jersey and Defiance, MO; and Richard (Anne), Oyster Bay, NY.
Evelyn is survived by a sister, Doris (Prach) Zalis, Bayside, NY; and Thomas (Naomi) Prach, South Setauket, NY.
Evelyn was blessed with 17 grandchildren: Marie Therese (McNamara) Watson, Thomas McNamara, Michael McNamara, Stacey (Gibson) O’Brien, Gail (Gibson) Donlan, Laura Gibson (deceased), Kyle McNamara, Paige McNamara, Tyler McNamara, Jessica (McNamara) Cozzolino, Joseph McNamara, Katy McNamara, Matthew McNamara, Ryan McNamara, Kelsey McNamara, Christopher McNamara and Gavin McNamara; and 11 great grandchildren: Alexandra Marshall, Robert Marshall, Ethan Marshall, Kellen O’Brien, Patrick Donlan, Rachel Donlan, Sean Donlan, Steven McNamara, Sam Watson, Katie Watson and Henry Watson.
Evelyn retired from the Oyster Bay Public Library after 20 years and was a past treasurer of the Catholic Daughters of America Court Sacred Heart at her home parish of St. Dominic Church in Oyster Bay.
Evelyn enjoyed reading, music, knitting, cooking and most of all family. Her door was always open and she loved inviting people for dinner and music. The house always rang out with love, laughter, and babies and children running around. Evelyn taught her family to love God, to love family and to love their neighbors. The family will try to pass on her legacy, and will all miss her very much.
