Dorothy B. Evangelista

Dorothy B. Evangelista, 75, of West Chester, PA passed away Thursday May 16, 2024.

She was the wife of the late Nicholas P. Evangelista.

Born December 16, 1948, in Drexel Hill, PA, she was the daughter of the late Hugh J. Bracken and the late Anne Devlin Bracken.  

Dottie was one of the first to be baptized at St Dorothy Church, where she was a longtime parishioner.  She graduated from Archbishop Prendergast High School in 1966. 

After high school, Dottie entered the Sisters of Mercy and graduated from Gwynedd-Mercy College.  She taught hundreds of students across schools, including Mt. Carmel and St. Dennis, mostly math and science. 

She earned her Masters degree at Penn State University in Business and Computing, after which she pursued a career that took her to Burroughs, Unisys, Dupont, and Merck. 

Dottie married her husband, Nick, and became a part of the loving Evangelista family.  Within her Evangelista, Bracken, and Devlin families, she was famous for her gift giving and for celebrating others.  She treasured her friends and neighbors who made her days on Halverson Drive such happy ones.  

Always a loyal Prendergast alumna, Dottie spent many happy days during her retirement on campus.  She worked on archives, organized events and reunions, and reached out to alumnae.  Through her gentle spirit and actions, she encouraged students and graduates to remember and live up to their motto Ut sim fidelis. Dottie was awarded the St. Katherine Drexel Award, given to the graduating senior and alumna who exemplify a Christian way of life in today’s world paralleling the work and life of St. Katharine Drexel in serving others.  

She was a member of St. Maximilian Kolbe parish, where she was an RCIA instructor, choir member, and traveler with the Kolbe Club.  

Dorothy is survived by her sister, Maryanne B. Quinn; her stepchildren James Evangelista, Mary Evangelista, Dr. Nancy Evangelista (Joseph Dosch), Patricia Miller, Mark Evangelista (Christina), Peter Evangelista (Laura), Dr. Ann Bowers-Evangelista (Dave); 14 step-grandchildren and 7 step-great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Carole Bracken; nieces and nephews, Maryanne Q. Hancock (Bryan), Peter P. Quinn (Kristen), Morgan VanArsdall (John), Elizabeth Bracken, and Laura Chaibongsai (Peter); and 10 grand-nieces and nephews.  

She was preceded in death by her husband Nicholas P. Evangelista; her parents, Hugh J. and Anne D. Bracken; and brother, Hugh J. Bracken. 

Relatives and friends are invited to her visitation on Friday, May 24, 2024, from 9:30 AM - 10:45 AM at St. Maximilian Kolbe Church, 15 East Pleasant Grove Rd, West Chester, PA 19382, followed by her Funeral Mass at 11:00 AM.  Live Streaming provided by St. Maximilian Kolbe Church is available Here. Burial will follow immediately at St. Peter and Paul Cemetery.  

Contributions may be made to Monsignor Bonner & Archbishop Prendergast Catholic High School 403 N. Lansdowne Ave. Drexel Hill, PA 19026.

Arrangements by DellaVecchia, Reilly, Smith & Boyd Funeral Home of West Chester, PA 610.696.1181 www.DellaFH.com