Eva Rae Westhafer, 83

Eva Westhafer went home January 13, 2019 at the Our Hospice Center in Columbus, In, surrounded in love by her two daughters.  Eva Rae Westhafer was born May 4, 1935 in Pocatello, ID to Everett and Dora (Floyd) Hutton. She was raised in Twisp Washington.  After graduating high school and attending business school, Eva became a stewardess for United Airlines. Eva was based in Chicago, and it was there she met the love of her life, who she described as “the most handsome man in the world”, the man to whom she would be married for 50 years, Jerry Westhafer.  Jerry and Eva married December 17, 1960 in Chicago, IL. They moved to Greensburg in 1961, where Eva was a homemaker. Along with raising their three children, she was involved in many philanthropic organizations. Eva was a member of the Decatur Country Right to Life, serving as President for many years. She also enjoyed membership in Psi Iota Psi where she took her turn as President and worked many hours at the thrift shop along with the annual children’s eye screenings.  Eva and Jerry were instrumental in bringing Hospice to Decatur County, being avid supporters, educators, and fundraisers. Eva worked as the volunteer coordinator and enjoyed spending time sitting with patients. Our family was very thankful for the Hospice services provided to us this past week.  Eva was a faithful member of St Mary’s Catholic Church. It was thru the church that she became one of the sponsors of the Nguyen Vietnamese family who moved to Greensburg during the fall of Vietnam, and to whom she remained very close.  Eva was also an avid gardener and a member of the Give un Take Garden Club. Jerry happily dug up a new part of his yard every summer for her latest gardening adventure.  Eva was a wonderful seamstress, making all of her children’s clothes as well as her own for years.  The pride and joy of Eva’s life were her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She loved being Nana most of all.  Eva is survived by her daughters Julie (Mark) Hanmer and Carole (Will) Burr, along with six grandchildren, Kooper Kuehl, Jillian Kuehl, Spencer Kuehl, Phillip (Paige) Westhafer, Thaddeus Burr and Noah Burr. She is also survived by two great grandchildren, Landon and Lincoln Westhafer. She is also survived by her half sister Necia Lyles and half brother Gary Dixon, as well as step grandchildren, Lance, Nadia, Sawyer and Sutton Hanmer and Kylie and Jay Myers.  She was preceded in death by her husband Jerry, her son Steven and daughter Mary Jean. Also preceded in death by her half brother Pat Dixon.  Visitation will be Thursday, January 17, 2019 at St. Mary’s Church at 9:00 a.m. The Rosary will be prayed at 11:00 a.m. Funeral mass will be at 11:30 a.m. with burial to follow at South Park Cemetery.  The family requests that memorial donations be made to St. Jude’s, St Mary’s School, Hospice of South Central Indiana.  Online condolences can be made to the family at www.popfuneralhome.com