Obituary: Evelyn Wanda Graham Zielinski, 92, Of Bethel

Information and Photo Courtesy Hull Funeral Home

BETHEL, CT — Evelyn Wanda Graham Zielinski, 92, of Bethel, passed away on July 9, 2022, after living a long and full life.

Evelyn was born on Sept. 2, 1929 in Arco, GA to Charles and Elizabeth (Miller) Graham. She moved to Bayonne, NJ as a child and graduated from Bayonne High School in 1947 and then graduated as an RN from Bayonne Hospital School of Nursing. She worked as a nurse for many years in New Jersey, Utah, and Connecticut.

She married Richard, the love of her life in the truest sense of the phrase, in 1954, and they enjoyed over 65 wonderful and loving years together. After living two years in Utah while Richard was in the Army, the family first settled in Middletown, NJ, and then relocated to Bethel in 1967.

In addition to her nursing career, Evelyn was interested in antiques and had shops in Bethel and Danbury in the 1970s and 80s and worked many area estate sales. She enjoyed extensive travel, doing needlepoint, and creative cooking—especially Southern recipes, as she was so proud of her family roots.

Evelyn was predeceased by her husband Richard in 2020. She is survived by their five sons and their families: Richard and Catherine of New Milford, David and Cynthia of La Grange, IL, Mark and Sandra of Millsboro, DE, Robert of Willimantic, and Steven of Waterbury. In addition, she leaves behind 11 grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Evelyn is survived by two sisters, Dorothy and Geraldine, and was predeceased by her siblings Everett, Carolyn, George, Robert and Jack.

She was reunited with Richard at Elmwood Cemetery during a private family service.