Evelyn MacAlister

Evelyn MacAlister passed from this life on March 3, 2017, in Verona, Wisconsin. Born January 15, 1923, in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Evelyn was one of four children in a Polish family that rejoiced in the Bible's promise of life beyond death for all mankind in Christ's kingdom. All six of them committed themselves to God. Evelyn's ambition was to become a Home Economics teacher. After graduating from high school in 1941, she moved to Chicago for the summer to make money toward her first year of college. The approach of World War II disrupted her plans. In Chicago she met John Connell and married him in November 1943. About 7 months later, he went to war as a bomber pilot in the European theater. In August 1944, his plane was damaged on a mission over Germany and crashed in the Netherlands. After being missing for a year, he was declared dead in August 1945. In December 1948, Evelyn married John Nelson. They started a family soon afterwards, having three daughters: Janis in 1949, Naomi in 1956, and Audrey in 1964. Evelyn and John divorced in 1971. Four years later she married widower Allon MacAlister and gained three step-daughters: Joyce, Elaine and Dawna. She moved to Allon's home in the Buffalo, New York, area along with daughter Audrey. She lived in New York for 30 years. Allon and Evelyn hosted weekly Bible study meetings in their home as well as larger conventions of the Bible Students. Evelyn would do most of the cooking for the conventions, as well as housing all the speakers. Following Allon's death in January 2005, she moved back to the Chicago area, living 5 blocks from her sister, Esther, and attending the West Suburban Bible Students Church. In October 2011, she moved to an Assisted Living facility in Verona, Wisconsin, about 6 miles from daughter, Janis, and son-in-law, Tom. Last July, Evelyn moved into the Memory Care unit as her health declined so that she could receive a higher level of care. Evelyn was predeceased by her parents, Joseph and Helen Szczesny, sisters, Esther Ciupik, Marten and Marion Marcis, brother, Leonard Szczesny and brother-in-law, Tony Cuipik and Ted Marcis. She leaves three daughters, Janis (Tom) Gilbert, Naomi (Mike) Warden, and Audrey (Greg) Melton; three step-daughters, Joyce (Paul) Lagno, Elaine (Patrick) MacAlister Jops and Dawna Rodriguez; eight grandchildren, Adam (Theresa) and Kim Warden, Eric (Natasha) and Aaron Gilbert, Nicholas and Scott Melton, Diana (Drew) Cuttill and Cassandra Maldonato, and two great-grandchildren, Austin and Blake Warden. Additionally she leaves sisters-in-law, Ruth Szczesny and Elneta MacAlister and brother-in-law, Jim Marten; nephews, Larry (Elaine) Ciupik, Jim (Cindi) Szczesny, Sherman (Jean) Marcis; nieces, Debbie (Tony) Boukal and Judy (Dan) McClughen. Visitation will be Tuesday, March 7, 2017, 6-9 PM at Matz Funeral Home, 410 E. Rand Rd. Mt. Prospect, IL. Funeral will be Wednesday 10 AM at the funeral home. Interment will follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery, Arlington Heights, IL. "Then I heard a voice from heaven say, "Write, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." "Yes," says the Spirit, they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them" (Revelation 14:13)

Evelyn MacAlister

January 15, 1923 - March 3, 2017