Evelyn Irene Brocious

1930 - 2025

Evelyn Irene (Chandler) Brocious of Oakwood Village Heights in Oil City, formerly of Distant, passed peacefully from this world into heaven on Sunday, February 23, 2025 at UPMC Northwest hospital following a brief illness.

Born January 5, 1930 in Porter Township, she was the daughter of the late Harold C. and Phyllis D. (Blair) Chandler.

She attended Porter Township School, graduating in 1947. She would remind us occasionally that she did so well in school that she got to skip the second grade and graduate a year early.

After graduation, she worked as a secretary for Lake Erie, Franklin and Clarion Railroad (LEF&C) until 1950.

She married and was a long-time housewife and stay-at-home mom, returning to the workforce in 1973 when she went to work at the G.C. Murphy store in New Bethlehem and later as a receptionist and optometric assistant to Dr. Fred L. Nungesser Jr., also in New Bethlehem. Later she was employed by Brookville Hospital for several years in the dietary department from where she retired in 1995.

She was known for her amazing memory and sharpness of mind up until her death.

Evelyn loved music, both singing and playing it. She was talented in playing the organ, violin and guitar as well as the piano in her younger years. She was still playing the piano up until the last couple of years when her health declined. She enjoyed traveling with her sister, Nellie, to England, Holland, Hawaii and Branson, Mo.

She enjoyed word find puzzles, playing bingo, watching game shows, listening to "good" music and class reunion lunches. But most of all she loved visits with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren as well as friends and relatives.

Growing up, she was a member of the Oak Grove Presbyterian Church. Later in life, she was the president of the cemetery association for many years.

After moving to Distant in 1964, she became a member of the Oakland Church of God in Distant and had been active in the choir in the past.

Survivors include her five children, Joyce Reynolds of Knox, Dean (Paula) Brocious of The Villages, Fla., Jack (Susan) Brocious of Grayslake, Ill., Eric Brocious of Tipp City, Ohio and Barbara (David) Dinger of Oak Ridge; 14 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

In addtion to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother and sister-in-law, William P. and Myrtle Chandler; and a sister and brother-in-law, Nellie N.and Pearl W.Powell.

She was the last remaining member of her family.

The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. to noon on Thursday, February 27, 2025 at the Oakland Church of God in Distant.

Services will follow the time of visitation, with the Rev. Jimmy Swogger and Pastor Anthony Rosario-Adams officiating.

The funeral service will be livestreamed from the church.

Burial will be in the Oak Grove Cemetery, Porter Township, Clarion County.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Oakland Church of God or the charity of one's choice.

Arrangements are at the direction of the Alcorn Funeral Home in Hawthorn.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.alcornfuneralhome.com.