Obituary of Margaret Ann Evans

Margaret Ann Havery Evans left to be with the Lord on July 20, 2022, at her home in Fairfield, CT. Margaret, also known as Peg, Peggy, Marge, Margie, Oma, and Mom, was 80 years old and was surrounded by her loved ones at the time of her passing.

To sum up Peggy’s life in only a few paragraphs would be an impossible task – but one we’re still willing to try. Peggy was born to Margaret and Stephen “Pete” Havery in Bridgeport CT on the bright and sunny day of September 21, 1941. Peggy’s favorite hobbies as a child were playing with her beloved younger brother Robert, playing and listening to music, and crafting. Peg was known as a friendly soul, with a twinkle in her eye and a smile on her face. She made many friends through the years, among them her best friends, Connie Jagodzinsky & Brenda Arthur.

After graduating from Andrew Ward High School, Peggy entered the working world and became a bank teller for Peoples Bank in Fairfield. Not one to sit idly by, Peggy was an active volunteer in the Civil Air Patrol.

It was while volunteering with friends at the Civil Air Patrol that Peg met and fell in love with the love of her life, Richard (Dick) Evans. The couple married on May 11, 1963, surrounded by friends and family. Soon after marrying, Dick’s career in the Air Force had them globe-trotting. The couple lived in Massachusetts, where her sons Ricky and Robert were born and then moved far, far away to Clark Air Base in the Philippines, where Peggy and Dick welcomed the birth of their daughter, Maeci. It was in the Philippines that Peggy fell in love with the serenity and beauty of the Pacific Islands, especially the Hawaiian Islands.

After a brief return to the US, the family moved once again to Zweibrücken Air Base Germany, where they lived for over 10 years.

During her years abroad Peggy made many friends in the Air Force community. Her sunny personality made her an asset to the many organizations for which she volunteered, including the Holy Family Women’s Guild, and the Holy Family Roman Catholic Church where she served as a Eucharistic minister for many years. Peg’s love of spending time with friends was evidenced in her enthusiasm for camping, volksmarching, and traveling throughout Europe with her family. She also enthusiastically added to her collectibles, adding many angel statues and Bossons chalk-ware heads to her collection.

Peggy’s support for her husband Dick’s career was of paramount importance to her.  Throughout all of his many deployments and assignments, she cared for their growing family while offering support to Dick in every way she could. Her contributions to his many projects are the stuff of legend, and her work for the Air Force in support of Dick’s projects was recognized many times, by many different military leaders.

In 1982, Peggy and her family returned to the States and Fairfield CT, moving into the family home that had originally belonged to her paternal aunt and uncle, Helen and Fred Prevot.  Peggy’s love of crafts flourished and she happily opened her own craft store in downtown Fairfield, which she ran for several years until her retirement. She volunteered for Saint Emery’s Roman Catholic Church, contributing to the Hungarian community in Fairfield and Bridgeport. 

In her lifetime, Peggy would visit over a dozen countries, including England, France, Spain, Belgium,Germany, Austria, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, Hong Kong, The Philippines, The Netherlands, Switzerland, The Czech Republic, and The Holy See. Despite her travels all over the world, when pressed to pick a favorite travel location, Peggy would respond with a US destination: Hawaii. She and Dick visited Hawaii many times, courting volcanic eruptions and hurricanes, but always returning with wonderful memories of a beautiful visit.

Peg was very proud of her Hungarian heritage, sharing her love of Hungarian Kolbasz, stuffed cabbage, palacsinta and shitni szalonna with everyone she knew and loved. Even to the end of her life, Peggy was fond of a good glass of wine, with a particular liking for German Reisling.

Peggy and Dick stayed married for the rest of Peg’s life – over 59 years of companionship and love. 

Peggy was predeceased by her parents, Margaret and Stephen Havery, brothers-in-law Robert “Doug” Evans, Edmond Kubeck, Leo Chin, and sister-in-law Barbara Chin. Peggy is survived by her devoted husband of 59 years, Dick Evans, her brother, Robert, and sister-in-law, Bonnie Havery, of Woodbury and Nantucket; and her sisters-in-law Kathleen Kubeck  of Meriden, CT, and Carol Evans Marenco and husband Guierrmo of Palm Bay FL.  Peggy leaves behind her three children, Richard Evans and wife Shelly of Dover DE, Robert Evans and wife Lisa of Bethel CT, and Maeci Evans and husband Steven Chmielewski of Stratford CT. Also close to Peggy’s heart were her three ‘adopted’ daughters, Jodi Simpson and husband Cory of Simsbury, CT, Kerstin Meinhard or Berlin, Germany, and Martina Friedrich of Basel, Switzerland. Her greatest loves, Peggy is survived by her many granddaughters and grandsons: Christina and husband Justin Fletchall, Sara Chmielewski, Dana Chmielewski and husband Ethan Bently, Theresa, Sara, and Erin Evans, Rhys and Griffin Evans, Katherin Orlowski and husband Eric, John Simpson and wife Ashley, and David Simpson. She is also survived by several beloved cousins, nieces, nephews, and many close friends.

Funeral services will be held on July 26, 2022 at 11 AM at St. Emery Church, 838 Kings Highway East, Fairfield, CT. Calling hours will be held on 25 July, 2022 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Lesko & Polke Funeral Home, 1209 Post Road, Fairfield, CT.

 In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.