In Loving Memory
Evelyn Josephine Gasster
December 17, 1928 – April 25, 2019
“She believed that God was in the garden and made a point of surrounding her home with plants and freshly cut flowers.”
Evelyn Josephine Gasster was born on December 17, 1928, in Dorchester, Massachusetts. She passed away peacefully in her sleep on April 25, 2019, in Torrance, California, at the age of 90.
Evelyn studied nursing and graduated from the Boston City Hospital School of Nursing in 1951. While working at Boston City Hospital, she met Marvin Gasster, MD. They married on May 21, 1952, and moved to California in 1953 as Marvin pursued his medical career. Together, they raised four children in Los Angeles: Deborah (Rich), Sam (Diane), Mark (Jill), and Lisa (Greg).
A loving sister, wife, mother, mother-in-law, and grandmother, Evelyn devoted much of her time from the mid-1950s through the mid-1970s to raising her children. She created a warm, welcoming home that was cherished by family and a wide circle of friends.
After her children had grown, Evelyn returned to nursing through volunteer service with the American Red Cross and Los Angeles County. She supported vaccination programs, even flying to Catalina Island to help administer vaccinations, and taught childcare preparation classes for new parents. Evelyn loved people, especially children. While living in Palos Verdes, she befriended many neighborhood children and welcomed them into activities such as cooking.
For the last 40 years of her life, Evelyn lived in Torrance, where she enjoyed a close-knit community of friends and neighbors. A lifelong learner with an enduring curiosity, she took classes at a local college and enjoyed community theater. She was an avid moviegoer, often attending several films a month with her close friend and neighbor Jeffery South. A voracious reader, she especially enjoyed murder mysteries. She also loved crossword puzzles, which reflected and strengthened her remarkable command of words.
Gardening brought Evelyn great joy. She especially loved Cymbidium orchids and plumeria, and she delighted in growing vegetables. She believed that God was in the garden and made a point of surrounding her home with plants and freshly cut flowers.
Evelyn was a devoted and supportive grandmother to her four grandchildren: Bryan (Lauren) Carr, born in 1982; Jamie (Connor) Carr, born in 1986; David Gasster, born in 1991; and Emily Gasster, born in 1997.
Evelyn was preceded in death by her husband, Marvin; her sister, Mary Dinneen; and her brother, Jack Sexton. She will be remembered for her generosity, curiosity, love of family, and the warmth she brought to the lives of those around her.