Evelyn Jean (Kreis) Spring, 92, of Nelson, N.Y., passed away peacefully on April 8, 2023. She was born on Sept. 21, 1930, in Syracuse, to the late Oscar and Edith Kreis.
Evelyn was a graduate of Onondaga Valley Academy and started her career as a phone operator for New York Telephone. She met and married John E. “Jack” Spring in 1955 and finally settled down in Nelson. Evelyn worked for the family businesses as co-owner and bookkeeper while raising five children.
Over their years together they hosted many gatherings and really enjoyed the annual clam bakes they would host at the house. Evelyn and Jack looked forward to their annual fishing trips to Charleston Lake in Canada, shared their love of golden retrievers and took joy in occasional trips to Las Vegas to see family and friends and to visit the many casinos and attractions there.
Evelyn loved the outdoors and tending to her gardens, feeding the birds, and fishing. She also cherished visits with friends and family and, when the weather turned cold, amused herself with setting up and working on her ever-present picture puzzles, accumulating quite a collection over the years. One of her greatest enjoyments was trying new foods and recipes. Her famous home-made barbecue sauce was a staple of the clambakes, and she spent a good deal of time perfecting it, always guarding the “family recipe.” Her greatest adventure was the trip she took with her sisters to Switzerland, which is her family’s homeland.
Evelyn was predeceased by her husband of 49 years, John E. Spring, as well as by her parents, Edith and Oscar Kreis, and sisters Lucille Grome and Doris Wheatley. She is survived by her children Debbie (Mike) Costello of Cazenovia; Denise (Dave) Lyga of Green Cove Springs, FL; John (Amy) Spring of Cazenovia; David (Lisa Bates) Spring of Gilbert, AZ; and Thomas (Joanne) Spring of Las Vegas, NV, and Colorado Springs, CO; her sister Arlene Prugger of East Syracuse; and her sister Barbara (Ron) Huckabee of LaFayette, N.Y. Evelyn leaves behind 13 grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, special friends and relatives including Beverly Hausaman, Anita Spring and Raymond (Sally) Dewitt.
Calling hours will be held on Thursday, April 13, 2023 from 3 to 5 p.m. at Michael E. Brown Funeral Services, 2333 Fenner Road in Cazenovia, immediately followed by a celebration of life service at the funeral home by Pastor Tom Davies. Family and friends are invited to a celebration of remembrance at 6 p.m. at the Hampton Inn following the service.
Contributions in lieu of flowers may be made in Evelyn’s memory to Francis House (https://francishouseny.org/ ), Hospice (https://www.hospicecny.org/ ), or the Nelson Preservation Associates (olddroverstavern.com/donate.)
Condolences for the Spring family may be left at michaelebrownfuneralservices.com.
