Most 94-year-olds leave behind memories; Evelyn Kozak left behind generations of people who felt loved by her.
Her memorial service was attended by a president, numerous pastors, colleagues, friends, of course her family, and her second husband’s family who treated her like their own mother.
Generations of Endearment
When you’re 94 years of age there’s not too many of your peers who are still this side of the grave. However, if you’re Evelyn Francis Ball Anderson Kozak, the people who show up your funeral are 30 to 40 years younger. People who loved and respected you because you were one of the kindest and most endearing women they’d known.
Evelyn was called by those closest to her, Evie and Ev, or as she humbly referred to herself, “the old gal” or “this old girl.” Her 11 step-grandchildren and 10 step-great-grandchildren all had their favourites terms of endearment. As well, her three younger brothers who were known to tease although I’m told they got worse than they gave.
Her Voice
Evie had an unmistakably distinct voice. On August 19th, just four days before she passed, her son Garth kindly arranged for Jocelyn and I to have a phone conversation with her. As soon as we heard her voice on speaker phone all the memories came rushing in.
She sounded like her chipper self. It was the friendly voice I first heard at Northwest Bible College 36 years earlier where she was employed as the registrar. The cheery voice I heard at the other end of a phone call many times during the day when she served as the first receptionist for North Pointe, 20 years ago. The confident voice I heard at the table in our staff meetings when she would pray for our team and for all their ministries to prosper so that people could experience the love of Jesus.
That Thursday we joked, and laughed and we told her sincerely, that we loved her. We knew that would be the last time this side of heaven that we would hear her voice.
Her Actions
And as strong as Evie’s voice was, her loving actions over a lifetime spoke even stronger.
That is best reflected in the comments made about her.
The widow of one of Edmonton’s most loved football players wrote, “A beautiful woman of God, mentor & dear friend. You inspired me & countless others who sat under your leadership through our women’s Bible studies. We will miss you but also rejoice that you are in the presence of your dear Lord & Saviour Jesus Christ.”
Evie was the first and only female elder at Central Tabernacle/North Pointe, a volunteer role entrusted to people who are held in the highest esteem by their faith community. Part of the role involved meeting with people who wanted to become members in the church. Evie grew up as a PK, “Pastor’s Kid,” and was happy for the heritage she enjoyed. One woman she met with said, “I remember her doing my membership interview when we moved to North Pointe. We bonded with all the great stories we shared growing up as PKs.”
Favourites
A faculty member at Northwest Bible College (now Vanguard College) said, “she was one of my absolute favourite people in all the world. She will be missed so much.”
A dear friend of Evie’s said, “My heart dropped and then felt peace knowing Evie is home with Jesus and will get to hear Peter sing again.”
Woman who was in thefirst Grief Share group at Central wrote, “Evelyn ‘Evie’ was a light in a time of incredible darkness for our family. An amazing woman who felt and shared our grief , disbelief and anger ,while leading us to a place of peace, strength and determination to carry on.Evelyn remains a part of our hearts forever.”
A woman who is warrior and served our community in law enforcement for many years, wrote, “She was a true example of what being a Godly woman was. Always full of love, generosity and caring.”
From a grieving widow, “Evelyn was a treasure to whoever had the opportunity to know her. She was such a blessing when she led Griefshare and I appreciated her friendship, love and prayers so much.”
What endeared Evie most to those who knew her best is that the adversity around her did not embitter the attitudes within her.
Her Grief
Evie was acquainted with grief just like Jesus. One of her sons drowned at a summer camp at a young age. She was a widow two times over. The death of her second husband, when she was 90 years old, came with its own kind of grief. She knew what lay ahead when Peter passed—the quiet house, the empty chair, the changed routines. That knowledge can make the second loss especially poignant.
But we also know that she would not have traded the joy of the families that came through those marriages for all the pain in the world.
Her Successes
We heard so much about Hughenden from Evie. Outside Evie’s business on August 28th.
She was a successful entrepreneur. If you do an online search for E. Anderson Insurance, you’ll find a FB page of the business that Evie started 43 years ago in Hughenden, southern Alberta. She also served as a bi-vocational pastor in Hughenden, the town she was born in. One of my colleagues said of Evie, “She was the shining star coming out of that little church that is no more.”
Leaders looked up to her. She was an ordained minister, pastor, Bible College Administrator, leader, communicator, joyful in ministry for over 65 years.
In their 80s – say that out loud – Evie and Peter went to Mexico to work with Peter Jr and his wife Bonnie in their ministry.
Evie and Peter joined a group that Jocelyn and I took to Israel and Jordan. While we were touring Jerusalem, our guide, Moshe, took us underground to a place at the foot of the Temple Wall. There was a portion of pavement beside the Temple Wall which our guide pointed out was circa AD 30. There was a great probability that this was pavement that Jesus walked on to get to the Temple. And Peter and Evie were standing on it. It was a sacred moment for them. Later that night, after a team debrief, Evie commented that it was so cool to stand where Jesus walked “but you know Pastor Bob, it’s even better to walk with Jesus now so we can stand with him in heaven.
Her Graduation
And that’s what happened to Evie on Sunday August 23rd. She believed that death was not a period at the end of life’s sentence but a comma that punctuated life to an eternal level. Her last breath in Beaverlodge was followed by her first breath in heaven. Imagine what heavenly air is like. And everything that she lived for by faith she is now experiencing by sight.
She would echo what William Borden said, “No reserves; no retreats; no regrets.” She trusted Jesus with all she had within her. And like the widow in the story in the Gospels, she gave all she had. She not only lived a long life, she gave a long life.
She was laid to rest near Hughenden.
Evelyn (Evie) Frances Ball Anderson Kozak… we will always love you.
You can watch a replay of the memorial service here.
Do you have a favourite Evie story or memory? Please share it in a comment. Thank you.
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