Eva M. Zeghibe of Boston passed away April 8, 2011 at the age of 94.
Eva was a 1932 graduate of the Boston Continuation School's Dressmaking Department. In 1950, she started her career as the Head Seamstress and Floor Supervisor at Decoration Services on Canal Street in Boston. Eva was cherished and loved by Rose Andelman, owner of Decoration Services, where they created drapes, slip covers, bedspreads and festoons.
The following words of remembrance were composed by Eva's niece Ann Zeghibe:
Eva never drove so she spent a lot of years in her life taking the T and walking and walking to her many destinations which is probably the reason why she was able to continue walking up until about a year ago in her 93rd year.
In her career as the head seamstress and floor supervisor at Decoration’s Services in the South End Eva would wake around 4 am to start her day.
After her retirement she continued waking up around 4am and I think basically thought that everyone else woke up at the same time and started their day because when Eva wanted you to take her to her many Doctors appointments, grocery shopping, the bank or other errands she wanted you to pick her up at 8 am sharp. She would be outside waiting for you 10 to 15 minutes before she was to be picked up rain or shine, hot or cold therefore if you were running late (usually because of work traffic) and you tried to call her to tell her you were stuck in traffic she would not be inside to accept your phone call and you would get that look from her that you kept her waiting, you were late and she was disappointed. I know Terry can attest to this and like me probably tried to tell Eva that if she could just wait until the work traffic subsided you would pick her up at 9 am and maybe even be 10 to 15 minutes early, but no Eva’s day started at 4 and she was probably rearing to go at 5 am.
Eva was a very independent and strong person who was able to live in her own apartment cooking and cleaning for herself until she was 92 ½ years old. She lacked a strong formal education but she made up for it in her own self taught ways. She was a very smart woman who was not afraid to speak her mind. At her apartment building one of the custodians told me that he really liked Eva because she told it like it was and you knew where you stood with her.
She was a proud woman who didn’t want people to see any weakness in her. When Eva was close to 92 years old I noticed that she didn’t have the stamina for long walks as she used to so I suggested that I get her a wheelchair so we could get out more often. Well she was totally against it and insisted she did not need one. I didn’t understand why when it would be so much easier for her. One day when we were out at Walmart and had to wait an hour for her prescriptions I got her a wheelchair and we had a great time walking around. After that she decided it was ok for me to get her a wheelchair but only if I disguised it or put it in my trunk so no one in her apartment building would see her in it.
When she started to decline and could no longer live on her own it was difficult for her as well as me making choices as to where would she be best taken care of. Fortunately after a few nursing homes, assisted living and a hospital stay I was able to find a room for her in the Armenian Nursing Home. She was well taken care of there and treated with a lot of love and respect. They came to love Eva and her outspoken ways. She lived on the lst floor but workers and visitors on the second floor either knew Eva or knew about Eva and her ways. When the social worker would compliment her after she had her hair done saying “ Eva you look beautiful” she would answer that she looked beautiful all the time. She had a wonderful sense of humor and had the staff laughing numerous times during the week. When she had trouble talking and swallowing the staff would tell me how much they missed the old Eva who would boss them around, tell them off, make them laugh while at the same time showing them love and compassion.
Eva lived a good long 92 ½ years on her own and the last 10 months of her life, I am happy to say, being well taken care of and loved at the nursing home.
Eva was the beloved daughter of the late Thomas and Joseph Zeghibe. Dear sister of the late Jacob, Louis, and Haseeb Zeghibe. Eva is survived by many loving nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Eva's Funeral Mass was celebrated in the Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Mission Church) April 14, 2011.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Eva’s memory may be made to the Armenian Nursing & Rehabilitation Center 431 Pond St. Jamaica Plain, MA 02130.
Interment New Calvary Cemetery in Boston.