EVANGELINE JOANNE LIAPIS (85) passed away May 2 at Good Samaritan Hospital in Brockton after a short illness. She was the daughter of the late Louis and Ethel (Zaferiou) Liapis.
She lived in Whitman until 1974, Plymouth for a brief time, eventually settling in Bridgewater. Evangeline was residing at West Acres Nursing Home in Brockton at the time of her passing.
A very vibrant, smart and social woman, Evangeline often said “People are my hobby”. She spent over 37 years working in various part time jobs, including a salesclerk at a local department store, a waitress at the renowned Toll House (she called herself an ex-Toll House cookie), a clerk in a woman’s specialty shop and as a tutor of various elementary school subjects. However, her favorite position was that of a full-time classroom elementary school teacher and teacher of children with moderate special needs. She retired in 1988 from the Pembroke school system after 30 years of a memorable career
While employed in the Pembroke school system she was a member of The National Education Association, The Massachusetts Teacher’s association, the Plymouth County Teacher’s Association and Pembroke Teacher’s Associations.
Evangeline graduated from Whitman High School in 1954 and received both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Bridgewater State College. However, she often said, “No amount of formal education is as valuable as the actual classroom experience”. She was an excellent teacher and thrived on her connection with all her students.
After retiring from teaching, she entered another phase of her life. She was employed as a mental health counselor at the Lemuel Shattuck Hospital in Boston where she worked with adult clients diagnosed schizophrenic or bi-polar. Evangeline found much satisfaction in her work with these people.
Although Evangeline did some travelling, especially enjoying her European trip with fellow educators in the 1960’s, she said her favorite place to be was New England. She called it “God’s country” and felt fortunate to be a New Englander.
Proud of her Greek heritage, Evangeline was a devout member of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church of Brockton. She participated in the rituals and festivities of the parish, enjoying helping annually at the Grecian festival. She served on numerous church committees and was an executive board member of Philoptochos.
Two special highlights of her life were extremely important to Evangeline. First, she was instrumental in reuniting a son with his father after a period of no communication between them for 42 years. They were members of a Liapis family, although not related to her own Liapis family. 80 relatives of this family were reunited in New Hampshire thanks to Evangeline and her incredible perseverance in searching for them. The second highlight was her participation in the many reunions of her Whitman High school graduating class. She managed to search and find all the living members in the class for their 40th reunion. Evangeline spent hours searching and documenting their whereabouts. She and all the members were thrilled with her discoveries. And both of these searches were done before the advent of the internet!
Evangeline loved to read, watch good movies and plays, spend time with friends over a good cup of coffee and attend numerous jazz concerts. Mainstream Jazz was a passion of hers.
A kind, considerate and loving woman who found joy in life, Evangeline was respected and loved by all. She will be greatly missed.
Evangeline leaves a nephew, Mark Liapis of Las Vegas and a niece Katherine Evangeline Liapis of Olmsted, Ohio, special friends Nick Bagus and Lydia Mathias, along with cousins and friends.
Services will be held Tuesday May 10 at 10:00 for visitation followed by a funeral at 11:00 at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 457 Oak Street, Brockton. Burial will follow in the Melrose Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers donations may be sent to her beloved church.