Evelyn P. Crotch, 89, of Andover, passed away peacefully Thursday February 23, 2017 at The Meadows at Edgewood after a brief illness. Evelyn was born on November 7, 1927 in Lawrence, MA to Leonard and Marion (Carr) Shipp. After graduating from Lawrence High School, she entered the Lawrence General Hospital School of Nursing graduating in 1948. While there, she earned the Florence Nightingale Award for outstanding nursing. She worked as a registered nurse at Lawrence General Hospital for many years and then continued on to private duty nursing in the Andover area. Along with her close friend, Leslie Crampton, they founded the West Parish Nursery School in 1959. Evelyn loved cooking and entertaining. She loved traveling the world but especially treasured the yearly trips she made with her grandchildren to Disney.  Along with her husband, Clayton she was an avid antique collector a hobby that they shared twice each year with fellow collectors at the Brimfield, MA antique show. She particularly loved collecting antique dolls and china.

Evelyn’s family members include her son, Gary C. Anderson and his wife, Deborah of Windham, NH, daughters, Linda L. Cronin of Andover, MA, Leslie M. Rosas and her husband, Belisario of Andover, MA as well as eight grandchildren and seven great- grandchildren and her sister, Leona Hollins of North Andover, MA.  She also leaves her sister-in-law, Isobel Crotch of Fairhaven, MA and numerous nieces and nephews. Evelyn was pre-deceased by her husband, Clayton, her son-in-law, Donald M. Cronin and brother-in-law, David Hollins.

Family and friends are invited to visiting hours on Sunday February 26, 2017 from 3 to 6 pm at The Charles F. Dewhirst Funeral Home, 80 Broadway, Methuen.  Funeral services will be on Monday February 27 at 10:00 am in St Paul’s Episcopal Church, 390 Main Street, N. Andover, MA. (family and friends are asked to please meet at the church). Burial will be in West Parish Garden Cemetery, Andover.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The MSPCA, 400 Broadway, Methuen, MA 01844.  To leave an online condolence, please go to www.dewhirstfuneral.com.

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