Cecilia Evelyn Trisilla (nee Gutowski) went home to be with her loving God and her beloved husband Joe on Sunday, October 13, 2019. Evelyn was 97 years old.
Evelyn was born April 2, 1922, in Chicago to Walter and Bernice Gutowski and was the 2nd youngest of four children including two brothers, Walter and Chester and one younger sister, Harriet. She was married to Joseph Trisilla for 64 years before his death in 2009. Evelyn is survived by three children, Carol (and Frank) of Batavia, Joseph (and Judy) of Lemont, and Anthony (and Beth) of Galesburg; three grandchildren, Chris (and Kellie) of Batavia, Natalie (and Joel) of Washington, D.C., and Nina (and Hani) of Peoria; and three great grandchildren, Emily, Chloe and Lincoln.
Evelyn met her late husband Joe while they both worked at Admiral in Chicago and they were married at St. Hedwig’s Catholic Church in Chicago, May 19, 1945. Evelyn was a devout Catholic her entire life and served the church in many ways including cooking meals for priests and serving in the Altar Guild and Rosary Society at Corpus Christi Church in Galesburg. She was a highly accomplished homemaker who loved gardening, interior decorating, crafting, and cooking traditional Polish meals for her family. She was described by her granddaughter Nina as the perfect combination of Betty Crocker, Martha Stewart, and Joanna Gaines. She inspired creativity, upheld traditions, instilled confidence, encouraged us to explore our unique talents, and loved us all unconditionally. She passed on her love (and skills) of cooking to her granddaughter Natalie, and through her patient and loving teaching has enabled Natalie to continue the many culinary and holiday traditions that bind us together as family.
Visitation will be 9 to 10 a.m., Tuesday October 22, 2019 at Hinchliff-Pearson-West Funeral Directors and Cremation Services Galesburg Chapel with a funeral mass at Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Galesburg at 10:30 a.m. the same day with burial at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Galesburg immediately following the service.
Instead of flowers, we ask for memorial donations to be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Evelyn’s name (www.stjude.org/ways). Online condolences may be made at www.h-p-w.com.
The world is a sadder place today because she is gone, but Evelyn was one of the last true family matriarchs. She gave so much to each one of us that we can never repay to her, but can hopefully pay forward to the rest of the world as her legacy. We love you Evelyn, “unconditionally” and forever. Rest in Peace and well done, good and faithful servant.
