Obituary: Evelyn Parker, 1925-2019 

click to enlarge

• Evelyn Parker

Evelyn Parker, 93, of Pillsbury Manor South in South Burlington and formerly of Burlington and Berlin, Vt., died with her family at her side at her home on Sunday, February 24, 2019.

Evelyn was born on May 7, 1925, in Worcester, Mass., the daughter of Jacob and Lydia (Alho) Luoma. When she was 5, the family moved to a small farm in Leicester, Mass., where she was raised with her 11 siblings. She graduated from Leicester High School in 1944 and graduated as a registered nurse from Worcester Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in 1947. She formed lasting relationships with the nurses who graduated with her and kept in touch throughout her life.

On November 23, 1947, Evelyn married G. Lawrence (Larry) Parker of Rutland, Vt. Evelyn and Larry enjoyed 47 wonderful years of marriage until his passing in August 1995.

Early in Evelyn’s career, she worked as a registered nurse at various locations as she traveled the world with her husband, a U.S. Air Force officer. Because of their extensive travel, their children were born in capitals around the world: Tripoli, Libya; Washington, D.C.; and London, England. In 1968, the family moved to Vermont and, for many years, she and her husband owned and operated Flower City Florist in Berlin and Flowers by Emslie in Barre. She and Larry enjoyed a long retirement traveling the U.S. in their motor home and residing in Dunnellon, Fla. In 2003, Evelyn returned to Vermont, where she lived in McAuley Square senior housing in Burlington until moving to Pillsbury Manor South in February 2018. Evelyn had many great friends at both McAuley and Pillsbury. She was an avid reader and crafter in the areas of painting, quilting and ceramics.

Evelyn was a devoted and active member of the Congregational Church and United Church of Christ, most recently attending the First Congregational Church of Burlington.

Survivors include her children: Reed Parker and wife Brenda of Williston, Vt., Leslie Parker and wife Peggy of Plainfield, Vt., and Barbara Parker of Vershire, Vt.; her siblings: Sylvia Forgit, Ruth Guilfoyle and Nancy Dorr; five grandsons: Eric and wife Elana, Josh and wife Brandi, Chris, Sam, and Will and partner Hannah; four great-grandchildren: twins Sophia and Riley, and Ezra and Ayla; and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents and several siblings.

There will be a graveside service held in the spring at Berlin Corners Cemetery in Berlin, Vt.

The Parker family would like to thank everyone at Pillsbury Manor South, Elderwood at Burlington and Bayada Hospice for the superb care and comfort they gave our mother for the past several months.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association, American Cancer Society or the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

Those wishing to express online condolences may do so at guareandsons.com.