Evelyn Bunt
Rosewood Heights |
“When I was a child, my grandpa Jenkins taught me the bedtime prayer, ‘now I lay me down to sleep …’ But these days, I say a different prayer before I go to sleep. I pray for each and every one of my precious loved ones – by name – asking God to never let go of their hands.” - Evelyn Bunt
Evelyn Marie Jenkins Bunt, born on April 4, 1931 in Alton, Illinois, peacefully passed away at sunrise on December 20, 2018 after an extended illness. Within hours of her passing, her family had received hundreds of notes of condolences and fond memories of Evelyn from across the country. Through these loving messages, the clear image of an earth angel appears: selfless, joyful, genuine, inspirational, pure of heart, overflowing with love, kind, welcoming, patient, gentle, eternal optimist, grateful, loyal, musical, whimsical, a gem with an angelic smile, the sweet heart of a servant, a tireless shepherd, the unwavering faith and strength of a leader, the best Sunday School teacher ever, spiritual mentor, a shining lantern that kept the pathway to heaven well lit, and such a confident True Believer that her prayers were as natural as a conversation with an old friend.
Evelyn’s passion for the church reaches back to her earliest memories. She once said “As a very little girl, I can remember thinking that the choir I heard up in the back of the church were real angels singing and I wanted to believe that so badly that I never turned around to see who was really singing.” A graduate of St. Mary’s Catholic School and Marquette High School, her life’s philosophy stemmed from the scriptures and served her – and those surrounding her – so well. Evelyn said, “The scripture that has blessed and guided me the most is Philippians 4:4-7. It reminds us not to worry about anything, but trust in the Lord always. We should always be full of joy and rejoice in everything and be thankful in all things.”
Evelyn is survived by her first love who shared her first and last kisses, Donald F. Bunt, Sr., to whom she was blissfully married for 68 years, by her six children – Deborah Bacus (Mark), Donald Bunt, Jr. (Patricia), Jennifer Friedrich (Thomas), Kathleen Nash (Terry), Daniel Bunt (Kathy), and Timothy Bunt (Joni), along with 14 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Coy and Mary Hauck Jenkins, by her two brothers David and Edward Jenkins, by her precious grandson, Spencer Bacus, and by her beautiful infant great grandson, Reef Harold Jones-Laws.
One might think that raising six children (who became successful law enforcement officers, firefighters, educators, and caregivers) would have been more than a full time job, but for a dynamo like Evelyn who has always been a faithful servant and a good shepherd, she was inspired to work as the Activity Director at Yinger Nursing and Care Facility for over ten years, take on the responsibility of being a Girl Scout leader for years, give back to her community for decades as an Election Judge, put in countless hours as a hospital volunteer, and become one of the cornerstones of St. Paul United Methodist Church in Rosewood Heights, Illinois by serving on a number of leadership committees, singing in the Chancel Choir and in “Sweet Sounds,” directing the Angel Choir, and shepherding as the 3rd grade Sunday School teacher for 54 years, as well as working as St. Paul’s custodian alongside her husband Don in their “retirement.”
And as if to stretch the clock past a 24 hour day, she also found time to enjoy bowling on the church league, gardening, hosting monthly family dinners and scores of birthday and holiday parties, and leading charity drives such as Heifer International and neighborhood carnivals for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
If you wonder what the difference is between a Sunday School teacher and someone who “shepherds” Sunday School, ask any one of the hundreds of children who experienced receiving a post card in the mail reminding them that “we all missed you at Sunday School last week and I hope to see you next Sunday!” That’s a good shepherd - one who knew how to gently coax her flock to stay together in the sweet pasture of the Lord and not wander too far off the path. That’s a good shepherd who led by example and changed hundreds of lives for the better, even after they were grown with families of their own.
If there was ever a scripture that seems to have been specifically written for one special soul, it is God’s wink to our remarkable earth angel Evelyn - Matthew 25:23 – “Well done, good and faithful servant – come now and share your Master’s happiness.”
Evelyn’s visitation will be held at Pitchford Funeral Home from 4 to 8 p.m. on the evening of December 27th. A funeral service for Evelyn will commence at 10 a.m. December 28th at Pitchford Funeral Home. Pastor Ed Weston will officiate. Burial will follow at Rose Lawn Memory Gardens in Bethalto, Illinois.
In lieu of flowers, Evelyn would dearly love it if you would consider Heifer International or St. Paul United Methodist Church in Rosewood Heights as memorial options.
Online guestbook available at www.pitchfordfuneralhome.com.
Pitchford Funeral Home
