Evelyn Jordan Vitez

her Belleville home surrounded by her loving family.

She was born on March 29, 1932 in Pasadena, California. While at Ohio University, Evie met and married the great love of her life, Norman “Normie” Vitez in 1951. Their marriage lasted for 69 years until Normie unfortunately passed away in October of 2020. Together they shared four children, all surviving: Vickie Bopp of Belleville, Illinois, Cheri Vitez of Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, Richard (Paulette) Vitez of Melbourne, Florida and Carla Kostelac of Belleville, Illinois. Also surviving are two grandchildren, Lindsay (Ryan) Reel of St. Louis, Missouri and Michael Bopp of Belleville, Illinois. Other surviving relatives, nieces and nephews will miss Evie as well. Evie was artistic, creative and had a warm and inviting personality.

She loved music and had an excellent singing voice and always sang in choirs. Since Normie was in the Air Force, Evie had the added responsibility of managing the family when Normie was on assignment overseas. She was very involved in all of her children’s school activities as well as scouts and clubs. Evie was interested in sports and enjoyed watching the St. Louis Cardinals and she and Normie were avid football fans. Her yard had many bird feeders and she was able to watch the birds, especially her favorites-- the beautiful red cardinals and that always made her day.

Probably Evie’s greatest attribute was her love of life and her compassion and empathy. Whether it was about her family, friends or neighbors, she always had a kind heart and listening ear. After her children graduated from school, she returned to work and became a personnel manager at Famous Barr. Even years after Evie retired, the people that she had hired remembered her fondly because she was so kind and caring. Evie lived alone in her house after Normie’s passing in 2o20, then in December of 2024,

she required 24/hour care and with the assistance of the Millstadt Senior Center, we found wonderful caregivers. These generous women who started as strangers became devoted and filled with love for our mother and for that we are filled with gratitude.

Special thanks to Hospice of Southern Illinois for their outstanding care and support during Evie’s last months. All of their dedicated staff including a hospice volunteer, nurses, and aides that came to take care of our mom admired her and agreed that she was a very sweet person. One of them said that Evie had a smile that lit up the world! Evie will be greatly missed by all of her family and friends. She will be cremated and then reunited with her precious Normie at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri on the anniversary of Normie’s death on October 21st.

We are so very grateful to have had this extraordinary angel here on earth with us for

ninety-three years.