Evelyn Carol Turany

Evelyn Carol Paulsen Turany, age 89, of Phoenix, passed away Monday, February 9, 2026. She was born in Chicago, Illinois, March 31, 1936, to the late Viola Mabel Wilke and Albert Christian Paulsen.

Evelyn graduated from Waupaca High School and earned her associates degree from the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point. She worked in the Merchandise Mart building in downtown Chicago, Illinois.

On Sept. 20, 1958, she married Joseph Francis Turany who preceded her in death July 6, 2019. The couple settled in Kimberly, Wisconsin, to raise their family and later moved to Phoenix, Arizona.

Evelyn loved teaching and served as a Title 1 English Aide at Carl Hayden High School and North Phoenix High School for 10 years. Evelyn loved to travel and logged thousands of miles with the family. She loved reading, listening to classical music, writing poems and stories, working crossword puzzles and gardening. She painted, crafted (making necklaces, candles, and Christmas tree decorations), and loved to take daily walks around her neighborhood.

She was always serving in her church, decorating the altar for services, cooking for fellowship meals (she is remembered for her classic peanut butter cookies, her Swedish meatballs, and rich scalloped potatoes), doing card ministries and organizing the prayer chain, teaching Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, and leading Lutheran Girl Pioneers. Evelyn was a good listener and was a behind-the-scenes counselor for many who needed it.

Evelyn and Joe helped start the HELP Thrift Store with all proceeds going to a future Lutheran high school, later named Arizona Lutheran Academy. They worked there regularly and Evelyn was known as the Thursday lady.

Evelyn is survived by her son, Michael (Kathy) Turany, and daughter, Rachel (David) Mendell; grandchildren, Rebekah (Marc) Wagers, Jonathan (Shyanne) Mendell, Benjamin Mendell, Sarah (Timothy) Reid, Esther Mendell, Abigail (Ian) Kent, Katrina Mendell; and great grandchildren Liam, Everly, and Willow.

The memorial service for Evelyn Turany will be held on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at 11 a.m. at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 3040 N. 7th Ave., Phoenix, Arizona 85013 (west side of 7th Ave. just south of Earl Drive). Evelyn’s ashes will be interred in National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona next to her husband.