Evelyn M. (Van Huffel) Reese Lawlor

Evelyn M. (Van Huffel) Reese Lawlor, age 95, accepted dissolution of the bond between body and spirit on Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019.  Her soul has returned Home, to be with its Creator. Evelyn was born into this world in Mishawka, Indiana in August 1923, the seventh child and youngest daughter of Isadore J. And Elizabeth (DeClercque) Van Huffel.

In 1924 the Van Huffel family moved to Warren where Isadore founded his new business, the Van Huffel Tube Corporation. Evelyn’s family were members of St. Mary’s Church in Warren and she attended their elementary school.  She transferred to Warren G. Harding high school, graduating in 1941. She matriculated to Saint Mary’s College in South Bend, Indiana where she graduated in 1945.

Evelyn married her high school sweetheart, Donald J. Reese, in 1946. After living in Columbus, Ohio for several years while Don earned a degree from The Ohio State University, they moved back to Warren.

Although her main job was raising four children during the 1950’s and 1960’s, Evelyn was also instrumental in helping Don grow his business (Reese Tool & Supply Co.) by assisting him with entertaining customers and suppliers.

Evelyn had many talents and interests.  She enjoyed painting, arts and crafts, playing cards, golfing, traveling, reading, decorating, and entertaining family and friends.  During her life, Evelyn was involved in Junior Crafts, the Women’s Auxiliary at Trumbull Memorial Hospital, and Mobile Meals. With various friends, she formed Investment Club and Birthday Girls.

For many decades, Evelyn was president of the Board of Directors of the I. J. Van Huffel Foundation, which was founded by her father and yearly donates thousands of dollars to local non-profit organizations.

Evelyn & Don were founding members of Blessed Sacrament Church and also belonged to St. Lucy’s Church in Florida where they spent many winters as snowbirds. They were also members of the Trumbull Country Club and, in Florida, of the Delray Beach Club.

After the death of Don, her husband for 49 years, she was fortunate enough to meet and marry another wonderful man:  Edward Lawlor.  They were married in 1997 and enjoyed 14 years together until his death in 2011.

Additional family members who preceded her in death are: siblings – Edgar Van Huffel, Harold Van Huffel, Howard Van Huffel, Carolyn Guarnieri, Albert Van Huffel, and Isabel Dray; son – Stephen Reese, step-son – Robert Lawlor, grandchildren – Matthew Reese and Gregg Snyder, and daughters-in-law – Mary Wisehart Reese and Patricia Holton Reese.

Evelyn is survived by her children: Kareen (Tom) Klier, Donald J. Reese Jr., Monica Reese (life-long boyfriend Tony DeMaiolo) and daughter-in-law, Mary Alice (Ralph Meacham.) She is also survived by 8 grandchildren – Jennifer Reese, Stephanie (John) McDaniel, David (Shona) Reese, Michael (Carissa) Reese, Heather Klier (Eric) Onderak, Amy (Matthew) Thomas, Mark Snyder, and Kate Snyder.

Evelyn was blessed with 7 great-grandchildren – Sophie, Liam, & Colin Onderak, Abigail, Jamison, & Payton Reese, and Charlotte McDaniel.

Evelyn is also survived by two sisters-in-law – Ruth Van Huffel and Betty Jane Searles. Finally, she is survived by Ed’s children – Edward Lawlor, William Lawlor, Kevin Lawlor, Maureen Caestaro, Mary Beth Shank, Ruth Keane, Michael Lawlor, their spouses and children.

Evelyn’s family would like to thank Ohio Living Hospice as well as the many caring aides who helped her over these past months; and, for some, years.

A Mass of Christian Burial with Fr. Peter Haladej officiating will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 26, 2019 at Blessed Sacrament Church, where family will receive friends from 9:00 a.m. until 9:50 a.m. in the gathering space of the church on Saturday morning.

Interment will follow in All Souls Cemetery in Cortland.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made in Evelyn’s name to: Blessed Sacrament Church, 3020 Reeves Rd. NE, Warren Ohio 44483 or Salvation Army, 210 Franklin St. SE, Warren OH 44483 or Ohio Living Hospice, 6715 Tippecanoe Rd. Bldg. E Suite 201, Canfield OH 44406.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Staton-Borowski Funeral Home, 962 North Road, NE, Warren, Ohio 44483, 330-394-6200. Dedicated To Serving Your Loved Ones. This obituary may be viewed and condolences sent to www.statonborowskifuneralhome.com.

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