Eva Cuculich

Obituary Teta Eva, from a proud family of Croatian heritage, passed away peacefully January 21, 2018, following complications from injuries sustained in a fall. Eva was a resident of Old Town for 79 of her 101+ years. Eva was born April 13, 1916 in Roslyn, Washington to John and Tereza (Stimac) Dragecevich. The family moved to a 40 acre farm on Axford Prairie in Grays Harbor County in 1918. On "The Farm" Eva with sisters, Mary and Emma, and brothers, Chuck and John Jr, learned the value of hard work. She attended grade school on Axford Prairie and graduated from high school in Aberdeen, Washington in 1935. Eva met George Cuculich, a commercial fisherman from Tacoma in 1937. They married February 25, 1938, a loving union that remained vibrant for 72 years until George passed away May 13, 2010 at age 98. George and Eva spent the World War II years in San Pedro, California before returning to Tacoma to make their permanent home in Old Town. George remained a commercial fisherman, eventually owning the purse seiner New Oregon. In addition to the accounting for the fishing boats, Eva worked for the Tacoma Housing Authority where she retired in 1978 as Director of Finance. In addition to her husband, George, Eva was preceded in death by her parents and siblings. She is survived by nieces Rosemary (Jim) Stevens, Theresa Hartsoch, Marian (Phil) Fitterer, Suzann Marrazzo, and Karen (Alan) Brunstad and nephews Chuck (Shirley) Dragecevich and Joe (Cerise) Dragecevich as well as numerous members of her extended family. Eva was a member of the Slavonian American Benevolent Society, enjoying many happy hours at the Old Town lodge on North 30th Street, and the Croatian Fraternal Union. She was also a member of the congregation at St Patrick Catholic Church. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 am, Thursday, February 1 at St Patrick, 1001 North "J" Street, Tacoma, WA 98403. Viewing will be Wednesday, January 31, 1-5pm at Gaffney Funeral Home, 1002 S Yakima Ave, Tacoma, WA, 98405. Eva's family suggests donations in her name to the St Patrick School tuition assistance program at 1112 North "G" Street, Tacoma, WA 98403