Evelyn Edwards passed away peacefully on April 2, 2013. Her time on earth exemplified the lives of so many women who encountered all the hardships and progress of the century with dignity and strength. Evelyn Lyons was born December 30, 1913 in Ravena, NY to William and Rose (Hartmann) Lyons and was the fifth of 8 children. Her father's work with the railroad caused the family to move many times in her formative years, but they eventually settled back in the area of her birth. Evelyn's education was permanently interrupted in her early teens when the demands of raising a large family became overwhelming for her mother, and she was called on for assistance. Nevertheless, her enthusiasm for reading and for learning as much as could practically anything continued throughout her life and passed along to subsequent generations. She met Mack Edwards in 1929 and they married on October 18, 1931. Their sixty three year union produced four sons, eighteen grandchildren and twenty-five great grandchildren. Together, they made the family their priority and Evelyn in particular always enjoyed spirited conversations on all manner of subjects with the different generations. She was a lifelong partner with her husband, and in their later years, they traveled extensively through the United States and Canada. Mack predeceased her in November 1994. In 1942, her husband's work for Railway Express brought them to Chatham, NY and this is where Evelyn found home. Two of her four children were born there, the Chatham Rug Company was founded and she and her husband renovated two homes, including the farmhouse on Valatie Road, which the family to this day considers its homestead. Evelyn acquired a host of skills throughout her life, including sewing, gardening, cooking, canning, refinishing furniture, and hanging wallpaper. It was not unusual for a visitor to encounter her performing several of these tasks at the same time. She also became something of an authority on birds and wildflowers. But it was her skill in painting that attracted the most attention in the region. A number of her oils and water colors adorn the walls of numerous homes throughout the Hudson River Valley from New York City to the Capital District. She exhibited throughout the region and in 2008 her paintings were selected for a touring exhibit. In 2009 she was recognized for the Lifetime Achievement Award. Evelyn also actively volunteered in a number of community organizations, including the Chatham public schools, the PTA, the Hospital Auxiliary to name a few. But her greatest service to the community was in the volunteer work she performed at St. James Roman Catholic Church. Evelyn's faith was the single most important influence in her life, and she worked diligently to meet its requirements. One way in which she sis this was through the time she spent giving back to her parish. She served for years with the Catholic Daughters and the Altar Rosary Society. She sang in the choir, and was a Sunday school teacher. She designed and constructed a number of liturgical banners and restored the statuary in the church's Nativity scene. She gave herself wholeheartedly to her parish and to her fellow parishioners. In her sixty-plus years as a member of St. James, there was very little that went on in the church in which Evelyn Edwards did not play a part. In addition to her husband, Evelyn was predeceased by her four brothers (William, Francis, Walter and Vincent Lyons) three sisters (Elizabeth Lyons, Helen Hackett and infant) and three grandchildren. She is survived by her sons John M. (Peg) of Castleton, Michael, St. Meinrad Indiana, Rick (Donna) of Chatham and Paul (Julia) of Gunnison, Colorado, and, as already noted, a community of grandchildren and great grandchildren. She will undoubtedly be remembered by everyone who had the privilege of meeting her as a woman of faith, will, intellect and incredible stamina. We give special thanks to the staff of the Terrace at the Eddy, and to all on the sixth floor and ICU of  Samaritan Hospital. A mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, April 8th at 11am in St. James Church, Chatham, NY. Interment will follow at St. James Cemetery in Ghent, NY. In Lieu of flowers donations in memory of Evelyn may be made to Catholic Charities or the Rosemary Cummins Edwards Trust at the Academy of the Holy Names in Albany. To send an online condolence visit www.frenchblasl.com.