Eva Ann Sommers

Eva Ann Vrablic Sommers was born on August 18, 1928 in her grandparents farmhouse at the base of a mountain in White Bear, Pennsylvania. She passed on from this world on May 18, 2024 at 95 years of age. She grew up on the family farm, working along side her extended family. She lived there until she met the love of her life, Jimmy, when she was barely 21. They married three months later on August 13,1950 and were still deeply in love at the time of Jim’s passing in 2017 at 91 years of age. Eva always said she spent a third of her life in Pennsylvania, a third in New Jersey, and the remaining third in Apex, North Carolina.

Family and friends meant everything to Eva. She worked at home in Ridgefield Park, New Jersey where she and Jim raised their only child, Janice. She was active in the school PTA, Girl Scouting, and church. All of Janice’s childhood friends still remember her. Eva loved to garden and to sew. Her garden in Apex burst into color each spring and she watched it grow over thirty years, moving plants around in an effort to make it perfect. She also worked with her dear friend Ruth to help establish the Prayer Garden at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Cary. She had a career as a sample maker for Playtex, working with a designer on women’s intimate apparel. After retirement she began sewing doll clothes that she carefully designed to match periods in history and then sold at craft fairs. She made thousands of dresses and delighted in watching the faces of little girls as they chose the perfect dress from her collection. In her 90’s she remained an active member of her quilting group at church. At nearly 95 Eva was still sewing and tending a small garden off her patio in a senior living community when she became quite ill.

Spring was her favorite season so Eva was quite proud of herself when she was able to transfer to the car this year and drive around to look at the dogwoods, azaleas, daffodils and any other colorful bloom she could see. She loved ice cream, hamburgers, and fried fish with coleslaw. Eva was feisty, particular, and opinionated. She never stopped thinking and learning and engaged in political and current events conversation until her death. She had a kind heart, a warm smile and easy laugh. She was a fiercely loyal friend and will be missed my many.

Eva was preceded in death by her parents Anna (Bachorik) Vrablic and Paul Vrablic, as well as her younger brother Paul Vrablic and special sister-in-law Elizabeth Sommers. She is survived by her daughter Janice Sommers and son-in-law Michael Koury, grandchildren Lindsey Esmaeili (Hoss) and Michael Koury (Brittany), and two great grand-children, Carson and Cameron Esmaeili. They brought sunshine and laughter to her days, playing Old Maid, coloring, pushing her wheelchair, sharing their artwork and answering questions about school and their activities. She is also survived by her younger sister Jeannette Reese of Pennsylvania. Howard and Arlene Lange and Eva’s goddaughter Lis Summers (Lange) were a special and much-loved part of her extended family. Eva has many nieces, nephews and cousins and she loved them all. A few were extra-special to her and she spent hours talking with them on the phone and visiting as she aged. Maryann Kunkel, her niece/goddaughter and her children; nieces Patsy Sommers and Susan Vrablic; her nephew Ed Sommers and wife Anita along with their children. Her cousins Judy Lapos, Suzanne Lisiewski, and Kathy Fisher listened to her family-history stories for hours, keeping her connected to her loved ones. Her close circle of friends were a blessing. Angie and Tammy, her “fake” daughters and former neighbors kept her smiling and laughing. They were devoted to making her life richer and more joyful. Her Steven Minister and dear friend Dawn Leister, and her church family, Fran, Ann, Charlotte, Kathi, Diane and Yvonne visited her faithfully, brought her treats, sang with her and prayed with her. Their love and support is appreciated more than they can ever know. This is a long but important list that illustrates the meaning of family and friends to Eva as well as their love for her.

The family would like to thank Debbie who was her loving caregiver, friend and confidant for the past three years; Daija, Tory and Mousa who made her life tolerable in recent months; and, her palliative care team from Transitions Life Care, who helped her cope with her transition from independent to assisted living. The last days of her life were spent at Transitions Hospice Home where she was cared for by a compassionate staff of nurses and volunteers. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Love Fund at Resurrection Lutheran Church, Cary, NC or to Transitions Life Care in Raleigh, NC.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, June 15 at 11:00 AM; Resurrection Lutheran Church, 100 Lochmere Drive West, Cary, NC.