Everdina Gips Tooker

1913 - 2011

Everdina Gips Tooker, 97, of 216 Park Ave., died Saturday evening, Aug. 13, 2011 at her summer home on Tuscarora Lake under the care of her son and Hospice.
Everdina was born on Dec. 7, 1913 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, a daughter of Floria Adrianus and Dingena Catharina Staat Gips.
She came to United States as a young girl and became a citizen on Feb. 15, 1928. She has been a resident of Oneida since 1932.
Everdina was a graduate of Morrisville High School and the Broad Street School of Nursing in Oneida. She was a registered nurse with the former Oneida City Hospital on Broad Street for many years, including a six month affiliation in Pediatrics and medicine at Fordham Hospital in New York City.
She married Oliver P. "Ollie" Tooker Jr. on July 6, 1936 at Hatch Lake, N.Y. Mr. Tooker died on May 18, 2006.
Everdina was a 75-year member of the First Presbyterian Church in Oneida, having taught Sunday school, serving on the Utica Presbyterial and the N.Y. Synodical boards. She attended annual leadership schools at Wells College, Cazenovia College and Ghost Ranch, N.M. She attended the World Council of Churches Conferences in Puerto Rico, Nicaragua and Geneva, Switzerland. In 1981 she was a member of the 193rd General Assembly in Houston, Texas. Everdina also attended the National Presbyterian Women's at Purdue University and Buck Hill Falls, Pa.
Locally she was active in Church Women United for 58 years, helping to initiate the Hunger Soup and Bread meals at Oneida Baptist Church, Madison County Health Fairs, Church World Service Kits for disaster relief, Oneida-Sherrill Migrant Committee, CROP Walks for Hunger and the beginnings of Oneida Recycling glass and newspaper at the Ames Shopping Center in Oneida.
Everdina volunteered as a nurse at Presbytery Church Camps, Glengarra and Vandercamp, Flood Relief in Elmira, N.Y., Habitat for Humanity in Lake Worth, Fla., Hamilton and Cazenovia, assisted young women to enlist with Job Corps, taught with Literacy Volunteers Program and served at the first Polio Clinic plus many later immunization clinics.
One of her most satisfying accomplishments was her involvement in "The Peace and Justice Movement," including "Buddhist 1962 World March for Peace," 1963 Civil Rights March on Washington, tying "The Ribbon" around the Pentagon, as well as vigils at Griffiss Air Force Base, Cape Canaveral, Albany Capitol and the Madison County Court House.
She enjoyed winters in Lake Worth, Fla. and summers with family and friends at their cottage on Tuscarora Lake and several trips to the Netherlands and Australia visiting family as well as France, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Italy and Hawaii.
Surviving is her son, O. Perry Tooker III of Oneida; two grandchildren, O. Perry Tooker IV and his wife, Kristin of Oneida and Kristina and her husband, Joseph Grasso Jr. of Pittsfield, Vt.; three great-grandchildren, Alexander Tooker, Elizabeth Tooker and Olivia Grasso; two sisters, Esther Way of Morrisville, Elizabeth (Frederick) Budworth of Ventura, Calif.; one brother, Jan C. Gips of Morrisville and one sister-in-law, Doris Gips of Port Republic, Md. and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a daughter, Catharina Maria Tooker in 1964; two brothers, Daniel Huibert and Peter Gips and three sisters, Johanna Montfort, Flora Penoyer and Catharina Annnen.
The family wishes to express their sincere appreciation to Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc. of New Hartford, The Oneida First Presbyterian Church and family and friends for the comfort and care provided to Everdina.
Memorial services will be held Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2011 at 1 p.m. from the First Presbyterian Church, 304 Broad St., Oneida with Rev. Stuart C. Wattles, officiating. In her generous manner and with her utmost concern for medical advancement, Everdina donated her body to the State University of New York in Syracuse for medical education and research. There will be no calling hours. Memorial contributions in her memory may be made to the First Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund, 304 Broad St., Oneida, NY 13421. Arrangements have been entrusted to Ironside Funeral Home, Inc., 342 Main St., Oneida, N.Y.
You may view obituary and send a message of condolence online at:
www.ironsidefuneralhome.com
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