G. Evelyn Hotalen, 89, of Sparta, passed away on Tuesday, July 20, 2021 at Newton Medical Center.
Evelyn was born in Newark, to the late John and Gertrude (Fahner) Fee. She grew up in Hillside on a dairy farm before moving to the Bevans section of Sandyston Township during her junior year in High School; she then went on to graduate from Newton High School in 1948. She worked at Selective Insurance as a bookkeeper before marrying the love of her life, Ernie in 1953. They moved to Sparta in 1956 where they built their dream home and raised their daughters. Evelyn attended William Paterson University where she received a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Education. She then went on to be a 6th grade teacher at Marian Emmons McKeown School from 1972 until her retirement in 1999. Evelyn was an avid reader and was a part of a book club with her fellow retired teachers.
The beloved wife of the late Lesler Ernest Hotalen, she is survived by her daughters, Merry Saba and her husband Simon and Gay Hotalen and her partner Thomas Vitiello; her grandsons, Christopher Ressa and his wife Victoria, Travis Ressa and his wife Jillian, Matthew Saba, Bailey Ressa and Steven Saba; her great-grandchildren, Julianna and Hunter Ressa; her sister Ellen Lambrecht and her husband Arthur and many loving nieces, nephews and cousins.
A visitation will be held on Friday, July 23, 2021 from 4-7 p.m. at Smith-McCracken Funeral Home, 63 High Street, Newton, NJ 07860. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, July 24, 2021 at 10 a.m. at the funeral home with interment to follow at Sparta Presbyterian Methodist Cemetery in Sparta, NJ.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in G. Evenlyn Hotalen’s name to Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute, 475 South Street, Morristown, NJ 07960. Condolences may be offered online at www.smithmccrackenfuneralhome.com
