Eva Holevas

A resident of Sunbridge in Playa Del Rey and then Mar Vista Country Villa in Los Angeles, California, she was 89 years old when released to our Lord on Tuesday, 6/12/12.

Like Mother Nature herself, Eva was a force to be reckoned with, tirelessly energetic and passionately committed. If she were a champion of your cause, she was your strongest ally. Heaven help you if otherwise; she was a fierce combatant.

Her parents, John and Emily Goulart, also raised eleven brothers and sisters:

George Goulart-Deceased

John Goulart-Deceased

Richard Goulart

Mabel Lundstrum-Deceased

Tony Goulart-Deceased

Francis Goulart-Deceased

Dorothy Cervelli

Doris Ventresca

Rosemary Roberts-Deceased

Joyce Naffziger

A close Catholic dairy farming family, they all attended Central High School on the West side of Fresno. But Eva "the Diva," as her siblings called her, had Hollywood dreams. She was the only one to run off and join the war effort. Enlisting in the US Navy, she became a WAVE. Friends and fellow workers soon discovered Eva's special gift: an angelic heart. Her entertaining, compassionate and tireless care lifted the spirits of returning injured soldiers. Without a doubt, her movie-star good looks and outgoing personality sped their recovery. Word spread among injured soldiers and requests for visits from Eva, "The Beautiful Healing Nurse," became epidemic. The San Diego Naval Base soon had a "Starlet," and Eva enjoyed celebrity-like status. Rising to the rank of Petty Officer First Class Pharmacist's Mate (E6), she became Secretary to the Base Commander.

While on leave in San Diego one night, she and another WAVE friend were watching a band play on stage. An exceptionally handsome and dynamic young bass player captivated Eva. She impulsively whispered to her friend, "See that bass player? I'm going to marry him."

And she did!

Quite possibly the first successful "Groupie" in San Diego, Eva married Thomas Harry Holevas. However, they were so passionately in love that they couldn't wait for the Grand Goulart wedding scheduled 8 long months away. In order to honor and uphold Eva's strong Catholic faith, they "secretly" were married on July 18, 1945. The following year as scheduled, March 3, 1946, The Grand Goulart Wedding - Fresno's largest wedding at that time - took place. Throughout their lives they enjoyed celebrating both anniversaries.

Eva's "star quality" did not go unnoticed by the "Dude Swingsters," husband Tommy's country western band. They knew Eva could enhance their success. Tommy's brother Len, a fellow band-member, nick-named her "Dolly" and she began touring the country.

Onstage, "Little Dolly's" captivating charisma blossomed. Later on, this success motivated her to seriously study acting at the renowned Ben Bard Player's studio in Hollywood. Eva starred in shows with fellow actors Stu Whitman, Mamie Van Doren, Bert Lahr, (the lion in “The Wizard of Oz”) and many others.

Her star was rising and opportunities were "available." However, Eva, had already become a dedicated wife and mother, based firmly in the Catholic Faith. She refused to let Hollywood's casting couch shenanigans compromise her. After walking out on a couple of plum-role casting sessions, she was taunted by a few fellow actresses and pseudo friends, "Dolly's off her trolley," they said. They were incapable of understanding Eva's unflinching faith.

THIS IS WHO SHE WAS!

Always a kid at heart, she excelled as a Cub Scout Den Mother and Campfire Girls Leader. An example was a lavish Cub Scout production of “Johnny Appleseed” that Eva produced, directed, and hand-made all the costumes. Drawing upon her many talents and wide-ranging professional skills, she inspired, dazzled, and motivated both kids and parents alike.

A gifted seamstress who made her own costumes, dresses, bathing suits, and even drapes for her home, Eva helped her parents celebrate their 50th Wedding Anniversary by hand-making each gown for every one of her sisters.

Even while she focused on raising her family, Eva's dynamic personality and exceptional looks were continually in demand. Rudy Miller, the well-known Magic Castle Magician, asked her to become his assistant. She did, and whenever "Dolly" came onstage, the fun began! She was a wonderful foil. Her naive, innocent farm-girl character perfectly countered Rudy's sarcastic New York humor, and they enjoyed working together for many years.

Long before the word, "Entrepreneur" was coined, Eva was one. She started, partnered, or in some way supported, numerous businesses. A few endeavors involved questionable people, but her amazing faith allowed her to see only the good. Although usually aggravating to family and close friends who only saw her being taken advantage of, Eva's unflinching faith was truly remarkable. Even scoundrels emerged positively influenced by her.

Eventually life came full circle. Eva, the firstborn daughter, was compelled to care for her father who was suffering advancing stages of Alzheimer's Disease. Eva had always believed that the body's own ability to heal itself is greater than anyone realized. Completely dedicated to healing her father, Eva mounted an exhaustive search for the cause and a possible remedy. Her studies and efforts thrust her to the forefront of healthcare. Overseeing and closely directing a round-the-clock nursing staff she utilized the latest mega-vitamin I-V and juice therapies, Naturpathy, Neuro-Cybernetic treatments, exercise therapy, and every other conceivable approach,

Eva provided her father a level of care beyond anything previously imagined. As a result, although suffering a dread disease of dire consequences, he enjoyed a quality of life and longevity and escaped the abhorrent suffering of drug related side effects. Eva cared for her father for several years, right up until the day of his passing. She also did the same for her husband, Tommy.

A daughter's appreciation, by Laurie Culley-Holevas:

“Dolly off her trolley, again!" Everyone gave Eva a hard time about her thoughts and ideas regarding good health.

I believe that Mom was, hands down, a genius when it came to health and healing. It just took 40 years for the rest of the world to catch up.

Everything she had warned us about, to be aware of and to fear is just now showing up in the media as new cancers! I'm glad that I was paying attention.

History shows us that the people who end up changing the world are always nuts, until they are right, and then they are geniuses. Eva was right about many health related topics.

Following a regimen of good diet and regular exercise, Eva kept her wonderful figure for her entire life. But her secret weapon was always trying new things. Late in life she took up Belly Dancing, and of course, she hand-crafted her own amazing costumes. Her meticulous attention to detail enabled her to create authentic professional costumes, and the level of her dancing soon matched those costumes!

Incredibly, Eva became a professional Belly Dancer. Her most notable performance, however, was for her 50th Central High School Class Reunion. The gentlemen in attendance were quite enjoying her show until word got out! Many of their wives were contentious. But after someone shouted, "Oh my god, it's Eva," she received yet another standing ovation.

Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. - Dr. Seuss

Eva was preceded in death by her parents, John and Emily Goulart, her loving husband of 57 years Thomas Holevas, and six siblings.

Eva is survived by her children Tom Holevas Jr., and his wife Laurie, daughter Jeri Marold and her husband Dave. Grandchildren David, Douglas and his wife Lauren, Daniel Marold, Alana and Evana Holevas. Great grandsons Dawson and Dylan Marold. Brother Richard Goulart and his wife Rose, her twin sister Dorothy Cervelli and her husband Bob, Doris Ventresca and her husband Guido, Joyce Naffziger, sister in laws Jenny Goulart, and Florine Goulart, God-daughter Janie Edwards, God-sons John Goulart III and Dean Roberts, numerous cousins, twenty seven nieces, nephews and their families

A Celebration Mass of her Life and Memories took place at St Anthony of Padua Chapel at St Peters Cemetery, 264 N Blythe, Fresno on Monday June 18, 2012 at 11 AM.

Donations may be made to

Alzheimer Association

Greater Dallas Chapter Office

4144 N Central Expressway Suite 750

Dallas, TX 75204