Obituary of Anastasia Evasuk

EVASUK, Anastasia (Stasia) Fashion Writer Toronto Star June 11, 1924 - May 28, 2009. It is with profound sadness and loving memory the family announces the passing of Anastasia (Stasia) Evasuk on May 28, 2009 at St. Joseph's Lifecare Centre, Brantford, Ontario. Stasia was born and grew up in the Town of Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, the eldest "coal miner's daughter" of the late John and Annie (Makahon) Evasuk. Stasia will always be remembered by her family, friends and journalistic colleagues for her always- positive love of life and her unique presence that could captivate and intrigue people from all walks of life. Upon graduation from high school, Stasia worked for the Glace Bay Gazette in the 1940's as a cub reporter covering local town and coal miners' union matters. She then moved on to Toronto, Ontario where, after a brief (two day) stint in the banking industry, she thankfully found her real calling in life -- writing about people and fashion. Stasia landed a job with the Toronto Telegram as a fashion reporter. After five years at the old Tely she moved to the west coast of Canada and worked as a journalist and reporter for the Vancouver Sun for several years. Returning to Toronto in the early 1960's she rejoined the Toronto Telegram as a fashion writer. Just prior to the Toronto Telegram's closing, Stasia left the Telegram to join the Toronto Star as a writer in the fashion section where she remained for the balance of her working journalistic career. Over her interesting and varied career Stasia travelled extensively internationally covering the major fashion showings in New York, London and Paris, as well as writing about the rich and famous. While Stasia followed the international fashion picture, at the same time she still equally promoted the Canadian fashion and local Toronto Spadina Avenue garment district scene, identifying up and coming Canadian fashion designers and their products. Stasia's articles always captured the people side of fashion, whether it be haute couture or the every day, common sense Canadian fashion scene. In the 1970's and 80's Stasia received significant journalistic recognition and a number of awards for her fashion articles including the coveted JUDY Award for the Toronto Star for her coverage of women's and children's fashion with special attention to the local fashion scene. With time Stasia moved gracefully from her globetrotting, fashion writing career to replace the late Lotta Dempsey carrying on the Star's seniors' column the "Age of Reason". Finally, in May 1991 she put down her typewriter for good, after almost 50 years in fashion writing and journalism to officially retire from the Toronto Star. After her retirement from the Toronto Star, Stasia remained a fixture in the Church Street, Toronto City Park apartment scene until a fall in April 2008 required her to relocate to the Brantford area to be close to her devoted sister, Helen Molnar. Stasia is survived by her sister Helen (Zsolt) Molnar of Brantford, Ontario and brother Bill (Francie) Evasuk of Glace Bay, Nova Scotia. Stasia was predeceased by her younger brother George (Carmie) Evasuk of Glace Bay. Stasia had many suitors over the years but never married or had children. Stasia has a number of nieces and nephews who she touched and who will miss her treasured personality and glamorous life-style. Most fittingly, Stasia's great-niece and goddaughter, Allison (Durand) Green of Markham, Ontario, has named her newly born daughter (April 29, 2009) Anastasia (Annie) Green as a living memory of Stasia, a truly unique and endearing person to both her family and many friends. A Celebration of Stasia's Life is currently being arranged to be held this coming August at St. Anne's Church in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia when all her family is "down home" back on the Mira. The family would like to express their special thanks and appreciation to all the health care professionals and staff at St. Joseph's Lifecare Centre who treated Stasia with care and dignity. No flowers or donations for Stasia, just love life, family and always treat people well as did Stasia.