Obituary

Evelyn Mary Brandin

Evelyn Mary Brandin, 94, of Laguna Niguel, Orange County, California died peacefully on Easter Sunday morning, April 9, 2023, at home surrounded by her loving and devoted family.

Born in Los Angeles, California on October 3, 1928, she was the daughter of the late Michael and Annie Stack. Evelyn was raised on a homestead in Saskatoon, Canada, along with her older sister Margaret. Evelyn developed a love of the outdoors with the beautiful surroundings in Canada. She treasured summers while hiking, horseback riding, playing games and camping. She loved swimming in the river by her home and taking rowboat rides on Lake Osoyoos watching the stunning colorful Canadian sunsets.

Evelyn was a devout Catholic all her life. She made her first communion in Oliver, British Columbia and attended St. Ann’s Academy in Kamloops, B.C. before moving to Fort William, Ontario where her father worked in a war plant.

After the war the families’ heartstrings were set on California once again. She attended her last two years of high school, at St. Mary’s Academy in Los Angeles, California and graduated in 1946. Evelyn then attended secretarial school, graduated, and was hired by Metropolitan Federal Savings and Loan on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles. She worked there for five years before joining American Airlines as a Stewardess. Evelyn flew on Convair’s which were forty passenger twin engine aircraft, before jets were routinely flown commercially. She flew out of La Guardia Airport in New York and then was transferred to Dallas, Texas. She loved it and on one flight she was photographed with Adlai Stevenson, Ambassador to the United Nations, and this photograph appeared on the front page of the Chicago-Sun Times in February 1953.

Evelyn met her husband, Robert Eric Brandin, at a Christmas party in December 1950 in Los Angeles. They married October 1, 1953, she then left American Airlines. Their marriage led to her most cherished work as a mother to her six children. All six children arrived in less than eight years. Evie always encouraged her children to live life to the fullest and to trust in God.

Evelyn was vivacious, energetic, and stylish, she had a gift for making people feel special. She inspired all those who knew her to live abundantly.

Evelyn took pleasure in travel and adventure and so there was hiking, camping, long road trips, and of course she shared her love of the outdoors with all the kids.

Evelyn’s actions and attitudes were always filled with joy and her desire was to instill a love of God and neighbor into her six children. She believed that her mission was to strengthen the moral and emotional well-being of the family by setting a good example of a joy filled life.

Another feat was hiking to the top of Mt. Whitney in her mid-fifties. That arduous hike was an accomplishment, and that experience provided a lot of satisfaction for her.

In 1974 Evelyn and her husband Bob opened a printing business in Santa Monica, California and named it Copy Spot. They operated the business for twenty-five plus years and all six children got a chance to work for Copy Spot. The business was very successful and provided many opportunities and more adventures for Evelyn. She traveled to Mexico, Europe, Africa, and took flying lessons and earned a Private Pilot’s License at age fifty-three. Evie and husband Bob flew to many destinations in the United States, Canada, and Mexico with their Cessna 182.

Evelyn is preceded in death by her parents, Annie (Ryan) and Michael Joseph Stack, her sister Margaret Montgomery, her husband of fifty-two years, Robert Eric Brandin, her daughter Lori Elizabeth Fatima, her stepson Robert (Bobby) Brandin Jr. Evelyn’s vivacious spirit is kept alive through her children, Erin Marie Graass and husband Jeffrey, Erik Christopher Brandin and wife Rita, Carol Anne Joannides and her husband Edward, Gregory Brandin, Susan Theresa Verville and her husband Mark, Vesna Brandin, Karen Brandin; her beloved grandchildren Megan Hollenberg and her husband Brent, Brandon McArdle and his wife Katherine, Katherine Oldham and her husband Matthew, Rachel Verville, Micah Verville and his wife Lindsay, Hannah Verville, Jean-Luc, Isabelle Joannides, Lauren Ostler and her husband Loren, Samantha Hinton and her husband Lee, Michelle Bonaventura and her husband John, Nick Brandin and great grandchildren, Channing, Terran, Atwood, Evelyn, Millicent, Beatrice, Noah, John IV and Isabella.

The family would like to thank Hoag Hospice for the compassionate and skilled care and comfort they provided to Evelyn, especially Angelica.

Because some of Evie’s most treasured moments were spent in the service of the catholic church and most especially helping the poor as a co-worker for Mother Teresa as a lay apostolate, donations can be sent to: Missionaries of Charity, 164 Milagra Drive, Pacifica, CA 94044, 650-355-3091.

A Vigil/Wake will be held at St. John Vianney Chapel, 314 Marine Avenue, Balboa Island, California Thursday April 20, 2023, at 3pm. A Requiem Mass will be held at St. Michael’s Abbey, 27977 Silverado Canyon Road, Silverado, California Friday April 21, 2023, at 2pm. Committal Service will be held at Santa Clara Cemetery 2370 N H Street, Oxnard.