Teresa Joan Evans

TERESA JOAN (CALCATERRA) EVANS, 96, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, at the Willow Falls Assisted Living Memory Care Unit, in Crest Hill, Illinois. Teresa was born on January 3, 1929, in the home of her parents, George and Mary (Louisa) Calcaterra in Joliet, Illinois.

A lifelong Joliet resident, she matriculated through grade schools at McKinley Park School and Washington Junior High School and was a very proud member of the Joliet Township High School Class of 1947. She was featured in the school's annual as the Girl's Athletic Association's "Head of Basketball," at only five feet tall! After high school, Teresa completed one additional year of business school. She briefly worked as a civilian employee in a secretarial pool at the United States military airfield at Orchard Field, now known as O'Hare International Airport.

Teresa married her high school sweetheart, Alfred Nichols Evans, Jr., on Easter Sunday, April 17, 1949, in the St Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church Rectory by Father Cloos. Al and Teresa would have celebrated seventy-six years of wedded bliss until Al preceded her in death on April 12, 2025. They resided in the Taft Elementary School neighborhood from 1953 until December 2022, when they became residents at Willow Falls Assisted Living.

Following her marriage, Teresa became a full-time housewife while raising their two sons, Dale Thomas and David George Evans. While her sons were attending grade school at Taft, Teresa was a very involved member of the Parent Teacher Association, served as a Room Mother, and represented Joliet's PTA organization in Peoria as a delegate to the State's PTA convention. She was also a Den Mother for Pack 29 of the Boy Scouts of America. Teresa enjoyed bowling with different leagues - especially with the Cathedral Ladies team on Wednesdays. She served as a volunteer at the St. Joseph Medical Center. Was a member of the Silver Cross Hospital's - King's Daughters and Sons of Will County's Jenny Lee Circle, as well as a member of the Rialto Square Theatre Volunteers. Teresa held various part-time employment positions: the Church Secretary for the Westminster Presbyterian Church of Joliet; a seasonal cashier at Al Baskin's; and Stretch & Sew to name a few. Teresa served many years as an election judge for Joliet Precinct #7.

On March 20, 1959, Teresa converted from her Roman Catholic faith to join with her husband at the Westminster Presbyterian Church of Joliet. She attended worship services and small group Bible studies. Teresa was a staunch member within the Presbyterian Women, Women's Circles, and Family Services so much so that she was recognized with an Honorary Lifetime Membership Award by the denomination's PW organization. Teresa was a stalwart member of the Fellowship Commission and Stewardship Commission while serving as the congregation's Assistant Treasurer. Teresa coordinated the Free Pancake Breakfasts, became a Stephen Minister and LOGOS Parent; attended Presbyterian Cursillo; and served on the Session as a Ruling Elder and Board of Deacons.

In addition to her parents, Teresa was preceded in death by her beloved husband Al; daughter-in-law Linda Carol (McCormick) (Mackey) Evans; father-in-law Alfred N. and step mother-in-law Eleanore Evans, brothers and sisters-in-law Louis A and Christine (Shimek) Calcaterra, Floyd L and Norma E (McCluckie) Calcaterra; sister and brother-in-law Georgine M and Joseph C Szawars; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Ralph “Dale” and Virginia (Buell) Evans, Roger C and Letitia K (Evans) Allen; half-brother-in-law Thomas L Evans; step-sister-in-law Joan (Wood) (Pankow) Greenburg; niece Joanne (Szawars) Peceniak, nephew Edward D. Evans and step-niece Susan Pankow.

Teresa is survived by sons Dale and David (Susie) Evans; grandchildren Heidi Carr (Anne Brinkman) and Scott (Dana) Evans and great-grandsons Grady and Eli Evans and Cole Carr; step-brother-in-law Charles “Chuck" (Jenny) Wood; sister-in-law Betty (Henkel) Evans; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Graveside services of Teresa’s and Alfred's ashes were held earlier at Woodlawn Memorial Park, Joliet, at which Pastor Karen A Williams of the Westminster officiated.

A celebration of Teresa's life will commence at the Blackburn-Giegerich-Sonntag Funeral Home located at 1500 Black Road, Joliet, on Saturday August 2, 2025 with visitation beginning at 9:30 AM until the time of service at 11:00 AM, at which the Reverend Matthew T. Robinson shall officiate. Live streaming of the service is available at: https://view.oneroomstreaming.com/index.php?data=MTc1MzExNjc2MDM3MjQwMyZvbmVyb29tLWFkbWluJmNvcHlfbGluaw==

The Evans Family extends its grateful appreciation to the staffs at Willow Falls Assisted Living in Crest Hill and the Gentiva Hospice in Oakbrook. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Westminster Presbyterian Church, the Rialto Square Theatre Foundation in Joliet, or another charity of your choice.