Eva Lavern Player (Pantelakis) (McBride)

Eva LaVern Player, our beloved mom, sister, grandma and great-grandma,returned to her Heavenly home on January 18, 2022 at the age of 80 in Bountiful, Utah. After valiantly struggling with health challenges for many years she is finally free of pain. She must be having a great reunion on the other side with her parents Eva Mae (Adamson) and Mark Beezer Player and her brothers William Mark (Nancy) Player and Brian Ralph (Becky) Player.

Eva was born in Murray, Utah as the oldest child in her family. She grew up in Fort Union, Utah (now

known at Midvale) with her siblings Minnie (Bill) Cosman, Judy Ann (Tim) Jones, Marie (Bob) McGowan and Joyce (Robert) Hawker. Eva's father passed away when she was a teenager and she was a great help to her mom. She met Mike Pantelakis and married him in 1959. They had three beautiful children together. Her children Mark (Teresia) Pantelakis, Beth (Scott) Pope and Dale Pantelakis were such a joy to her. She loved being a mother and loved her children with all her heart.

She had a wonderful relationship and love for her mother-in-law Ellen (Yiayia) and father-in-law Demetrois (Papu). They were a strength and loving guidance in the life of her children and herself. In

her second marriage she was fortunate enough to add four step children into her life: Linda, David, Danny and Nancy McBride. Through this experience Eva developed a great love for disadvantaged children and began bringing foster children into her home. Through this wonderful experience she had Tina and Brandon McBride brought into her life and was able to adopted them. After becoming a single mom Eva decided to attend Utah State University and received a bachelors degree in Special Education while being a mom at the same time. She then started a career as a Special Education teacher at Granite High School while still completing her Masters degree in Special Education. She met so many wonderful co-workers and students during her career that she cherished dearly. Near the end of her career she suffered many health challenges that caused her to use a walker but that didn't stop her from continuing to live a fulfilling life. She then moved to Logan so she could be closer to her sisters and brother. She was so thrilled to also live near her great-grandchildren and spend time with them. She relocated to Bountiful, Utah a few years ago, where she was able to serve in the Bountiful temple despite her health challenges. She always desired to serve a mission and serving in the temple became her mission. Keeping her temple recommend current and attending the temple brought such blessings into her life. Eva loved to serve others and was always looking to help in any way she could. She even received an award for all the service gave.

Eva loved to share her time, thoughts and stories with all who knew her, and even those she had just

met. She loved people so much and spending time with others made her feel whole. She would talk daily and for hours at a time to her sisters. Those phone calls were very special to her and something she always looked forward to. Eva always had a gift for everyone she met. She loved giving gifts and watching the joy others had from receiving them. Her heart was so big and giving.

One of her favorite pastimes was to turn on music on her TV and watch picture slide shows of her family. She loved to show everyone who came to her room the different pictures and tell them stories about each child, grandchild and great grandchild. She loved to brag about her grandchildren and all their accomplishments; Ashley (Tyler) Smedley, Josh (Abi) Pantelakis, Chelsie (Andy) Tucker, Telisha (Ryland) Tausinga, Michael Pantelakis, Alyssa (Blake) Amick, Keonna (Kortland) Warnick, Skyler Pantelakis and Tessa (Cole) Smith. She loved them all so much. But her great-grandchildren Hailey Smedley, Ethan Smedley, Aubrey Smedley, Courtney Smedley and Liam Pantelakis were the ones that had her heart. She completely adored them!

Her friends were very important to her and she loved spending time with them. But most of all, her best friend Katherine Lindbloom, who was more like a sister to her, brightened her life daily and helped her so much. She was a true blessing in Eva's life. We can’t forget her grandpups, Nala and Remi and the many dogs blessed to know her throughout her life.

Eva’s Visiting Angels and Home Health caregivers made her feel like a mother again as she listened to

stories and shared her own and we want to thank them for all the love and care they showed her. We are exceptionally thankful for those who have played such an important role in Eva’s life and helped fill it with so much love and joy. Grandma Eva, you are so loved and missed! Thank you for all the happiness and memories!

Services will be Monday, January 24, 2022 • 12:00 PM Viewing • 1:00 PM Funeral Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park and Mortuary, 3401 S. Highland Drive Millcreek, UT 84106.

For those that are unable to attend for any reason you can watch the funeral live by following link starting at 1:00 PM Zoom: wasatchlawn.com, services and click live stream at 12:50 pm.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to:

Work Activity Center, Inc.

1275 West 2320 South

West Valley City, UT 84119

801-977-9779 ext. 156

workactivitycenter.org Arrangements under the care and direction of Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park and Mortuary. For more information, please call 801-466-8687.