Our wife, mom, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Eva Macaluso, nee Wright, passed away peacefully on July 2, 2024, with her husband at her side, from complications following a stroke.

Eva, daughter of Clarence and Evelyn Wright, was born April 13, 1938, in Oil City, Pennsylvania. She spent her early years working and playing on the family fruit farm in Ripley, New York with her six siblings. Eva wanted to go to college and become a teacher, a first for her family, so she began working and saving and enrolled at Fredonia State University in New York where she earned a Bachelor of Education degree and met her husband, Salvatore. They spent the next 65 years creating a beautiful life for themselves and their family.

Eva's career as a kindergarten teacher spanned 30 years and many schools. As a military wife, she packed up and moved when required, but her reputation would follow her, and she would inevitably be hired in whatever new school district she landed. Their home was filled with Best Teacher mugs, picture frames, or candles. She cherished these mementos and could still today tell us the name of the student that gave each "gift." She would attend these students' weddings, graduations and celebrate important milestones, a pretty amazing feat considering she was their kindergarten teacher! But she was a cheerleader for all, encouraging them to be kind and do their very best.

This was how she was at home with her family too. It was not possible, no, not allowed, to have a bad day, because as she was fond of telling us, "Your day is what you make it." If we were afraid, we would be advised to "count our blessings." Moving to the Philippines required us to get painful inoculations. No crying or whining allowed. Since it meant we would be joining our father, we had to sing Happy Days Are Here Again to and from the vaccine clinic. You could not squelch her determination to be happy. Her kids admit they tried.

In addition to being happy, Eva spread happiness. She would regularly visit nursing homes, taking homemade cookies and visiting with strangers she called her friends. If you had the pleasure of being her server at a restaurant, bagging her groceries, or filling her prescription, she would want to know your name and learn about you.  You would be counted among her friends, and she would look forward to the next encounter.

Her family is incredibly sad that she is no longer with us, but we are in awe of the many lives she touched in both intentional and random ways. She was a beautiful person, and we will miss her terribly. A hip fracture and subsequent infections brought an end to her five-mile walks when she would wander around town, waving to "friends," putting newspapers on porches, pulling up trashcans for people who struggled to do this for themselves. Her last years were not easy. Not being able to take those daily strolls and be outside, something she loved, was difficult. However, she continued to live happy and did her best to make everyone around her happy as well. She looked forward to Friday night game nights with her close friends, spending time with the Shady Ladies, dinner after Saturday mass, and attending performances and visiting with friends at The Hett. She continued baking treats for her family and friends; taking great care of her husband; and spending time with him, her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She would probably consider having a family that loved being together her best accomplishment. The family regularly gets together for Sunday Night Family Dinners, and it would be hard to say who loved those more, Eva or the family.

Eva is survived by her husband of 65 years, Salvatore; her children Mickey (Daniel) Dobbins, Sam (fiance Cheryl Minnick), Jim, and Steve (Mary); her grandchildren Allison (Mike) Schaal, Anthony (Katie), Dominic, and Kate; and great-grandchildren Owen and Emily Schaal. Eva loved Lorna (Manny) Casiano like a daughter, and the family is thankful for the love and care Lorna provided following mom's surgery and at her passing. Eva's siblings have passed, but she remains close to her sister Betty (Jerry) Lawson; her brother-in-law Joseph Macaluso; sister-in-law Lois Macaluso; nieces; nephews; and her many friends, especially Cindy and Dave Willson, Debbie and Denny Alford, and Larry Magnuson.

Because Eva espoused kindness and happiness, her family asks that in lieu of flowers, people remember her by taking time to make someone's day better. Smile at a stranger. Take a moment to visit with the person next to you. And most of all, be happy! Music and the performing arts were important to Eva, and they provided her great joy. Gifts in her memory may be made to The Hettenhausen Center for the Arts , McKendree University, 701 College Road, Lebanon, Illinois, 62254.  Gifts may also be presented to the funeral home staff or made online at the following link: https://giving.mckendree.edu/hett .

A video tribute is available and online condolences may be shared at www.wfh-ofallon.com.

Visitation 4 – 8 p.m., Monday, July 8, 2024 at St. Nicholas Catholic Church, 625 St. Nicholas Dr., O'Fallon, Ill., and one hour prior to Mass on Tuesday.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, July 9, 2024 at the church with Rev. Nick Junker presiding. A luncheon will be served immediately following the mass in the church hall. Following the meal, procession will depart for Graveside Services to be held at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Lebanon, Ill.

The family was assisted by Wolfersberger Funeral Home, O'Fallon