Evelyn J. Barreca

May 2, 1920 – June 17, 2009

Evelyn J. Barreca entered this life May 2, 1920. She entered eternal life on June 17, 2009.

A Mass of the Resurrection to celebrate her life will be held Saturday, June 27, at 10:30 a.m., at St. Francis of Assisi, 15236 21st Ave SW, Burien, Wash., followed by burial at Gethsemane Cemetery, 37600 Pacific Highway S., in Federal Way.

Evelyn Jane Jones was born to Daniel and Matilda Jones, the seventh of seven children, in Eagle Valley, just outside Richland, Ore. She moved to Portland and became a “Rosie the Riveter” after WWII started, but soon enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard and was stationed in Florida, where she met her husband, Joseph A. Barreca. They became engaged on New Years’ Day, 1944, and were married March 2, 1946, in Missouri. 

The couple moved to Seattle later that year, where she attended Seattle Pacific while Joseph completed law school at the University of Washington.

They moved from Holy Family to St. Francis in 1958 and were faithful members of that parish for 45 years, until they moved to DayStar Retirement Home, in White Center, in 2002, and returned to Holy Family. 

Evelyn was a member of St Michael’s Circle at St. Francis for many years and has many good friends there still.

She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Joseph A. Barreca, and her children, Joe Jr. (Cheryl), John (Marilyn), Jeff (Kathy Kroening), Anita (Roger Ellison), Marc (Leigh), Jeannette (Bill Yake), and Rosalie (Tom Howarth), and five grandchildren; Bina (Joe Brock), April, Emily, Nick, Bjorn Ellison (Ethel); and by her great-grandchildren, Iliana and Lenora Ellison, and Ovid Duke Brock.

She also leaves behind a sister, Ruth Young, and many, many nieces and nephews. Evelyn was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. 

She wanted everyone to remember that there is a God in heaven, who loves us. She shared her love of flowers, animals, rocks and all of nature with her children.

She cherished her memories of growing up on a farm in Eagle Valley and we will cherish our memories of her.

You may view a photojournal of her life at: http://home.comcast.net/~yake/Evelyn%20Barreca%20HTML/data/index.html

Donations in her name can be sent to Group Health Hospice: Group Health Foundation, Dept. 4194, P.O. Box 34936, Seattle, WA 98124.

Arrangements: Bonney-Watson Funeral Home, 900 SW 146th St., Burien, WA 98166, 206-244-2320, http://www.bonneywatson.com/_mgxroot/page_10957.php

—Family of Evelyn Barreca

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