Evelyn Anne Bednarz of Orillia, Ontario passed away on May 4, 2023 at Mariposa House Hospice from a brief but intense battle with cancer. Evelyn maintained her sense of grace, positivity, compassion, bravery, and good humour to her final day.
Evelyn was born in 1954 in London, England to Alexandra Galaj and Bernard Gorski. She emigrated with her parents and older brother Jack (Kathie) Gorski to Parma, Ohio, where her baby sister Christina (Bill) Ellersick was born. Evelyn adored her siblings, who she regarded as "truly brilliant."
Evelyn attended Valley Forge High School, where she met her lifelong best friend, Sharon (Borys) Malyczewsky. Evelyn would follow Sharon to Canada, where she met her loving husband of 50 years, Richard Bednarz.
Evelyn was a hippie at heart. She hitchhiked across North America with her husband, and she went backcountry camping with her first-born daughter Suzanne (Jason) Olimer and god daughter Arienne (Kevin) Strong. Her favourite bands included Donovan, The Rolling Stones, Leonard Cohen, Judy Collins, and The Incredible String Band. She was a dedicated fan of the Mariposa Folk Festival and Roots North.
Evelyn always embraced her nerdy side. She loved art, puzzles, relaxing video games, knitting, and all things science fiction and fantasy. She read dozens of novels aloud to her second-born daughter, Emily (Devin) Bednarz. Evelyn was a Tolkien fanatic — she could never turn down a (sometimes heated) discussion on Lord of the Rings trivia. She cherished family reunions, where she would play board games with her beloved nieces and nephews late into the night.
Evelyn maintained a conscientious and natural way of living. A vegetarian for decades, Evelyn prided herself in making eco-friendly choices to ensure a greener future for her grandchildren, Gabriel and Xavier Olimer and Arthur Bednarz-Ruelland. She loved yoga, meditation, and hiking at local trails — particularly Grant's Woods, Scout Valley, and the Copeland Forest.
Looking back on her life, Evelyn was happy knowing she had made a real difference as a nurse — particularly during her time in the Labour and Delivery unit at Orillia Soldiers Memorial Hospital. Over 30 years, Evelyn helped deliver countless babies into this world. She also built lasting friendships with her colleagues, including Ingrid Hall, Lynn Veitch, and Bernice Thibedeau.
Evelyn's family will be hosting a Memorial Gathering at the Simcoe Funeral Home, 38 James St E. Orillia on Saturday, May 20 from 1:00PM to 3:00PM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Mariposa House Hospice in recognition of their tremendous care and compassion.
Messages of condolence are welcomed at www.simcoefuneralhome.ca