Evelyn Koury

1931 - 2016

Evelyn M. (Caruso) Koury, 85

Worcester - Evelyn M. (Caruso) Koury, 85, of Worcester died November 13, 2016, at Holy Trinity Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Worcester. She was born in Boston, the daughter of Joseph and Mae (Altieri) Caruso, and grew up in Arlington, Mass., where she attended Arlington public schools. She earned a Bachelor of Science at Boston University's College of Practical Arts & Letters and a Master of Education at BU's School of Education. There, she met her future husband, Edmond Koury, then a BU medical student. The two were married in Arlington in 1958.

Evelyn taught high school in Boston and in Holden, but left the profession in 1958 to raise her family. She became an avid volunteer in Worcester, launching a school volunteer program for the Junior League of Worcester, and serving the YWCA and what was then called the Age Center. Later, she was involved in the Worcester Institute for Senior Education (WISE) program. She was also active in her church.

Over the years, Evelyn enjoyed family vacations across the United States and in Europe; loved to cook (her lasagna was legendary and her holiday dinners were savory feasts); relished finding a bargain at the old Filene's Basement in Downtown Crossing; and treasured warm weekends with her family and old friends on the beach in Ogunquit, Maine. She was a voracious reader, making weekly trips to the Worcester Public Library. She was happy to sit at the end of the living room couch-her verge-with a book in her lap and a stack at her feet. She instilled this love of reading in her daughters.

With her BU classmates, Evelyn helped to establish the John Oddy Scholarship Fund, in honor of a beloved professor. The prize is given to a junior or senior woman who has distinguished herself in a course in classical history or classical civilization.

She leaves her husband, Dr. Edmond M. Koury, three daughters, Anita Koury, and her husband, Theodore Costantino, of Boulder, Colo.; Linda Koury of Chestnut Hill, Mass.; and Cynthia Buccini, and her husband, Randy Buccini, of Portsmouth, N.H.; cousins; and all the loving friends of her daughters.

Family and friends will honor and remember her life by gathering for calling hours from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, November 16 at Dirsa-Morin Funeral Home, 298 Grafton St., Worcester, Mass. Her funeral will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Thursday, November 17, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, 256 Hamilton St., Worcester. Burial will follow at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Arlington.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Holy Trinity Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, 300 Barber Ave., Worcester, Mass., or to Boston University/Prof. John Oddy Scholarship Fund, Boston University Development Office, 595 Commonwealth Ave., Suite 700, Boston, MA 02215. www.worcesterfuneral.com