Evelyn J. Chuchalk 1922-2025

She was born on Oct. 28, 1922, in Deerfield, to James Snyder, a prominent engineer, and Olive Leona Williams Snyder.

Evelyn moved regularly as a young girl, as her father’s work required the family to relocate often, but she grew up and spent most of her adolescent years in Alliance. She graduated from Alliance High School.

Evelyn was a real-life Rosie the Riveter. During World War II, she joined our nation’s war effort in her early 20s, taking a job at the Ravenna Arsenal. While there, she worked on the Load Line setting pins into ammunition shells. She told stories of the importance of her job and how one missing pin would bring the entire line to a standstill. A single shell without a pin could mean life or death for our boys overseas, and that was unacceptable!

Evelyn worked at the arsenal until meeting her future husband, Frank W. “Buck” Chuchalk, a Navy man and veteran of the war. They married on Aug. 30, 1946, shared 52 years of marriage, and created a family and life together. In addition to raising her children, four grandchildren and keeping a home, Evelyn was a devoted and faithful member of the former Trinity Fellowship Church in Lake Milton. Evelyn donated her time and talents to the church’s food pantry and clothing ministry for many years. She was an ever-present fixture in the church kitchen, particularly during Vacation Bible School each summer, helping to prepare lunches for the children who attended.

Evelyn was an active member, alongside her husband, “Buck”, of the Lake Milton American Legion Post #737. She served as president of the Ladies Auxiliary at the Legion as well. She enjoyed baking and cooking, especially authentic Hungarian dishes, and planting flowers around her home. “Grandma Chu” hosted countless family holiday dinners over the years. As a grandmother, she rocked the babies, bathed the little ones in the kitchen sink, scolded the teenagers, and fed them all; everything a grandma does.

As time passed on, Evelyn took interest in puzzles and enjoyed watching her programs. She was especially proud to have lived independently in her own home, (with some help in the last few years), her entire life. We are certain that she was grateful to have died there, too.

She is survived by two daughters, Denise Chuchalk of Niles and Susan D. Colosimo of Lake Milton; and her son, Terry M. Chuchalk of Lake Milton; 10 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren, and 15 great-great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Frank “Buck” Chuchalk, her parents, a daughter, Patricia Exline, son-in-law, Joseph Colosimo, and two grandchildren.

Family and friends will be welcomed from 5 until 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, at the Higgins-Reardon Funeral Home, North Jackson Chapel, 439 S. Salem-Warren Road (Rt. 45), North Jackson. The Rev. Jeannie Balentine will honor Evelyn with a funeral service to take place that same evening at 7 p.m.

Evelyn will be laid to rest, privately, in the West Cemetery in Palmyra Township.

Evelyn was a proud and generous supporter of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and to the DAV (Disabled American Veterans).

If you are inclined to donate, please do so in her memory. She would surely think, “Well, isn’t that something?!”

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