Evelyn Brutovsky

Evelyn Craver Sodan Brutovsky, 88, of Endicott, NY, known lovingly as “Nanny” by most, left this Earthly life on August 1, 2022. Heaven has gained a kind and beautiful angel. Born to Charles and Beatrice Craver in Binghamton, NY on August 21, 1933, Evelyn had a special way of making everyone feel treasured. To know her was to simply adore her.
Evelyn was a skilled artisan, with a wide array of talents and limitless creativity. An accomplished seamstress, she designed many cherished garments and heirloom quilts for her loved ones. She was a talented baker and chef, known for her decadent holiday care packages filled with spritz cookies, snickerdoodles, fudge, and peanut butter cookies that all looked like they’d been shipped directly from Martha Stewart’s kitchen. She had a unique way of storytelling that kept the listener on the edge of their seat, waiting for the hilarious punchline, which she unfailingly delivered with impeccable comedic timing.
Not many are lucky enough to have one great love in their lives, but Evelyn had three. Evelyn’s first great love was her first husband, Richard “Bud” Sodan, whom she married in January 1953. They started their family in Binghamton, NY, but their love story carried them to Goochland, Virginia and finally, to Ithaca, NY where they enjoyed cool summers and slightly cooler winters beside Lake Cayuga in Evelyn’s family home. Their cabin on Lake Cayuga was a favorite destination for family, with many wonderful memories made during familial gatherings and celebrations by Cayuga’s clear waters. When Bud passed in 2004, Evelyn remained in Ithaca because it was the place Bud loved the most and she felt closest to him there.
Once crowned prom queen, Evelyn met her second great love more than half a century ago in high school, in Al Brutovsky. Though their paths diverged as teenagers, they later reconnected in 2010 after having lost their longtime spouses. Evelyn and Al were married on December 1, 2012 and had nearly 10 wonderful, love-filled years together before her passing. Though they reconnected through sad circumstances, Evelyn and Al were not shy about sharing how grateful they were to have found one another again. Their love was truly marked by adoration and their delight in one another’s presence.
Evelyn’s third, and perhaps greatest love, was her family. She and Bud were blessed with five children, 21 grandchildren, and 25 great-grandchildren, ranging from North Carolina to California, and everywhere in between. In Evelyn’s eyes, her family could do no wrong. Ask any of her treasured grandchildren and undoubtedly, each will have an anecdote about the way Evelyn showed how much she loved them and valued their individuality. At any given moment, she was known to grab the hands of her loved ones, look deeply into their eyes and tell them genuinely, just exactly how special and loved they were. Her passing leaves a void in the lives of her loved ones, but they find comfort in so many years of wonderful memories and knowing, without question, how much she loved each and every one of them.
Evelyn wasn’t known to have a life motto, but if she did, it would be best summed up by Maya Angelou’s famous quote:
“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” We will never, ever forget how you made us feel, Nanny.
Survivors include Evelyn’s beloved husband, Al Brutovsky; her brother Bruce (Loretta) Craver of Cherry Valley, CA, sister Doris Craver Allen of Conklin, NY, children Jerry (Susie) Sodan, Sr., Dick Sodan, Patti Costello, Charlie (Courtney) Sodan, and Bob (Robin) Sodan; step-daughter Lisa Brutovsky; 21 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, and bonus family members.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Wednesday 10 am at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, 701 West Main Street, Endicott. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.