Evelyn Margaret Girardo

Evelyn Margaret Girardo, 87, of Shawnee, Kansas, died Tuesday, June 25, 2013, at the Kansas City Hospice House.

Evelyn was born December 27, 1925, to William and Emma (Koepke) Thielfoldt in Winside, Nebraska. When she was five the family moved to the Iroquois, South Dakota area where she attended school. Upon graduation from high school, Evelyn moved to Palo Alto, California where she met Albert Girardo, a sailor stationed at the same naval air station where she was working. They married on December 28, 1945 and spent the next sixteen years moving from one Navy base to another throughout the Midwest and west coast of the United States.

Upon retirement from the Navy, Al and "Evie" moved to Al's hometown of Carlinville, Illinois. He began his career as a Quality Assurance Inspector for the Department of Defense in 1965 whereupon the family moved to Batesville, Arkansas. Later they were transferred to Tulsa, Oklahoma where they made their home for 30 years until Al's death in 2001. After 2002, Evelyn lived near or with her two daughters. Her final years were spent in the home of her daughter Jill in Shawnee, Kansas. Evelyn was a devoted wife and mother. She loved travel, whether it be short jaunts or long trips. She also enjoyed crossword puzzles, movies based on true-life events, and listening to music.

Evelyn is preceded in death by her husband Albert, sister Jeanette Lower and brother Lloyd Thielfoldt. Also preceding her were three infant siblings, Bernita, Ronald and Donald. She is survived by her daughters JoAnna (John) Young of McLean, Virginia, and Jill Marie (Bruce) Sibley of Shawnee, Kansas; a granddaughter, Emma Anna Young; her brother Eldo (Helen) Thielfoldt and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service for family and friends will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Amos Family Funeral Home. Burial will be at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia at a later date.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial contributions be made to Kansas City Hospice and Palliative Care.