Evanthia S. "Eva" Phillips

Elizabeth Victoria Suraci was born in New Haven CT, on April 20, 1927. Named for her grandmothers, she was the 4th child and only daughter of Italian immigrant Joseph Suraci and his Hungarian immigrant wife, Anna Hepp. In the early 1930's the family relocated to Wilson NC. Elizabeth left Wilson at the age of 15, during World War 2, to serve as a waitress at the Navy Grill, located outside the main gate of the Naval Base in Norfolk VA. There, she would meet her future husband, Chief Warrant Officer Sam Phillips. On January 29, 1950, they married in a Greek Orthodox ceremony in New York city. Nine months and five days later, their only child was born, Robert Joseph, named for his grandfathers and understood to be the honeymoon gift that kept on giving.

Eva, as she would come to be known, accompanied husband Sam in several Navy assignments until he was medically retired on 100% disability in 1959, at which point the family relocated to Sam's hometown of Mt. Vernon, Illinois. A few years later Eva became a nurse's aide at Good Samaritan hospital, and still later would return to get a GED high school diploma, followed by an associate's degree in nursing, becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse at the Good Samaritan hospital for 25 years. After her husband's death in May 1990, two weeks after her retirement, Eva channeled her grief and her gifts into community and church volunteer activities through Epworth United Methodist Church, helping at the food pantry, teaching Sunday School and representing the church at United Methodist conferences. She also provided a stable setting of warmth and welcome for her four grandchildren during their college and employment while their dad continued service as a Navy chaplain in numerous settings. In 2021 she relocated to an assisted living location near her son and family in Godfrey, Illinois, and subsequently to a memory care facility in Jerseyville, where she resided at the time of her death on January 24, 2026.

Survivors include her son, Rev. Bob Phillips and wife Rev. Christy, granddaughters Sarah Wilburn (Daniel) of San Jose, Rachel Gilmore of Phoenix, Rebekah Phillips DeZalia (Ian) of Denver, great grandchildren Samantha Huchel, Bennett and Elizabeth (Eliza) Gilmore, and Ada Anne and Eli Thomas Phillips DeZalia, plus numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, her husband, her grandson Thomas Howard Phillips, and every sibling and spouse on both sides of the Phillips and Suraci families, truly the last of her generation.

Visitation will be on Saturday, February 14, 2026 at 10AM at the Epworth United Methodist Church in Mt. Vernon, followed at 11AM by a service of worship and gratitude to God conducted by Rev. Rachel Phillips Gilmore and Captain Robert Phillips, Chaplain Corps, USN (retired). A meal will be offered at the Fellowship Hall at the church. Burial of her ashes will follow at the Old Shiloh Cemetery.

Call Hughey Funeral Home at 618-242-3348 or visit hugheyfh.com for further information.