Evelyn Kearney

Evelyn was born March 20, 1930, in Jessup, Pennsylvania, a small coal mining town. Evelyn was the fourth of six children born to Frank and Mary Cherochak. Evelyn’s father worked in the coal mines, and her mother labored hard to care for their family during the Depression era. Jessup, like many small towns, comprised different European immigrant groups, each with their own unique heritages and traditions. Generations of families lived with or in close proximity to each other.

Evelyn was blessed to have both sets of grandparents close by as she was growing up. Highlights of her young life included time spent with her relatives, including visits and celebrations of birthdays and holidays. Easter was a very special holiday to the family, and included food and traditions that came from her grandparents’ Russian heritage.

Evelyn graduated from Jessup High School in 1947. In her senior year, she was the captain of the cheerleading team. Big bands were popular in the 1940s, and her school held weekly dances and formals.

After high school graduation, Evelyn took a job as a switchboard operator with Bell Telephone in the neighboring town of Olyphant, Pennsylvania. She would commute by bus daily, while still living with her parents in Jessup. Coming off the night shift early one morning, she met Peter William (Bill) Kearney who was a taxi cab driver at the time. The rest, as they say, “was history”!

Bill and Evelyn were engaged on Christmas Eve 1951 and married June 28, 1952. Bill was working at Picatinny Arsenal in Dover, New Jersey, at that time and commuting weekly from Olyphant. After their wedding, Bill and Evelyn moved to Dover. Bill then took a position with Prudential Insurance Company, and Evelyn transferred to New Jersey Bell. Their first two sons, Bill and Jim, were born in 1953 and 1955.

Bill and Evelyn were able to purchase their first home in Mine Hill, New Jersey, in 1957 and lived there for the next thirty years. They were blessed with three more children: Bob, Tom, and Joan.

Evelyn excelled as a wife and homemaker. She took wonderful care of Bill and her children and put into practice all that she had learned from her mother. Evelyn was very organized and meticulous in keeping track of finances, doctors’ appointments, and whatever was needed in caring for her family.

In 1964 Bill was offered a teaching position at Roxbury High School in a federally funded program called “Distributive Education.” He also returned to school to finish his master’s degree.

When the children were in upper classes at school, Evelyn took a job as a real estate agent. With her engaging personality and a great grasp on what would be a good home for a family, she excelled in that job as well.

After Bill’s retirement from Roxbury High School in 1986, he and Evelyn lived in Jupiter, Florida for eleven years. By this time her four sons were married with children of their own. Visits to "Baba" and "Pop-Pop’s" home were always wonderful times for the grandchildren.

In 1997 Bill and Evelyn moved to Sun City, Bluffton, South Carolina. Bill was able to improve his golf game, and Evelyn was able to take art classes several times a week. She improved her painting talents, and blessed family and friends with gifts of her artwork.

In 2014 Bill and Evelyn moved to Woodbridge, Virginia, to be near their daughter Joan. They lived in Woodbridge for seven years. They returned to Jupiter, Florida, in 2021 and took up residence at the Madyson Palm Beach Gardens.

It is hard to sum up in words the legacy that Evelyn leaves to her husband, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and friends. All were so blessed by her love and care.

Solomon stated it best in these following verses from Proverbs 31:

"An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above jewels.

Her children rise up and bless her.

Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,

But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.

Give her the product of her hands, and let her works praise her at the gates."

Evelyn Kearney is survived by:

Her loving husband, Peter William Kearney

Children: William Kearney, wife Mary Ann, James Kearney, wife Nancy

Robert Kearney, wife Judy, Thomas Kearney, wife Colleen, and Joan Kearney

Grandchildren: Chris Kearney, wife Michelle, Kelly Kearney, Katie Kearney, Phillip Kearney, Brad Kearney, Adam Kearney and her late grandson Evan.

Great Grandchildren: Joy, Alice, Sam and Mae Kearney