Eva Theresa Pelski, age 88, passed away peacefully on May 11, 2018 in Ocala, FL. She was born on December 16, 1929, in Palmer, MA, to Andrew and Cecilia Lucas. She was the oldest of six children and grew up in Three Rivers, MA. She studied piano at the Springfield Conservatory of Music, where she earned her certificate to teach piano lessons.
She married William Pelski on February 16, 1952, and moved to Florida in 1955, where she raised five children. She lived in Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, Coral Gables, Coral Springs, and Ocala, where she lived since 1977. She was a devout Catholic and an active member and ministry volunteer at Blessed Trinity Catholic Church. She also worked as a volunteer and was head of the volunteers at Ocala Regional Medical Center.
She bowled on leagues in Ocala and Pompano Beach and was a member of the 200 Club and the 500 Club. She loved bingo and playing the slot machines at the casinos. She spoke fluent Polish, played the piano and organ, had a green thumb, and created beautiful needlecraft. She also traveled around the world to Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and New Zealand.
Eva was a devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Her legacy lives on in her 5 children, Donna Dumas (Gary), Mark Pelski, Linda Khoury (Philip), Brian Pelski (Jeanne), and Bruce Pelski (Jean); her 9 grandchildren Joelene Yates (Billy), Michael Khoury, Aaron Dumas, Amber Dumas, Stephanie Pelski, Jessica Pelski, Preston Pelski, Andrew Pelski, and Peyton Pelski; and her 2 great-grandchildren, Eva Yates and Ethan Yates. She is also survived by her brother, Robert Lucas, and many nieces and nephews.
She is pre-deceased by her parents and her sister, Dorothy Wozniak, and brothers, Daniel Lucas, Andrew Lucas, and Edmund Lucas. She is also pre-deceased by her ex-husband, William Pelski, to whom she was married for 46 years. She also cared for him when he had Alzheimer’s Disease. Eva will forever be loved and missed by her family and friends.
The family will receive friends at Blessed Trinity Catholic Church, 5 S.E. 17 St., Ocala, FL 34471, on Friday, May 25, from 10:30 to 11:00 am. A funeral mass will be held at 11:00 am, followed directly by a reception lunch. The family especially thanks the hospice nurses and staff at Estelle’s House and encourages donations in Eva’s memory to:
Hospice of Marion County (www.hospiceofmarion.com). Eva has donated her body to the University of Florida Medical School.
Arrangements are by Roberts of Ocala Downtown Chapel, 606 S.W. 2 Ave., Ocala, FL 34471 (352)537-8111.