Evelyn Hope (Kostuk) Novak

Evelyn Hope (nee Kostuk) Novak, 92, of the Town of Niagara, passed from this life on June 20, 2018 at Mount St. Mary’s Hospital miraculously the same day her loving Mother passed 14 years ago.  Born on August 19, 1925, she was the daughter of the late Arthur and Evelyn (Friesman) Kostuk.

Hope, as family and friends knew her, was a lifelong area resident and a graduate of Niagara Falls High School.  On October 25, 1947 she married the love of her life Donald C. Novak.  He sadly predeceased her on May 30, 1991.

If you walked by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church on 18th Street in Niagara Falls at 6 a.m. Monday thru Friday you would have found Hope arriving to open up and start preparing the food for Meals on Wheels. Putting in 24 years as a cook and volunteer for MOW, Hope sadly, while at work, tripped and fell on April 2nd this year at the age of 92 and had to stop working due to her injuries.  Hope led quite the busy life.  She had four Girl Scout Troops, bowled and became one of Niagara Falls Best Women Bowlers and was elected to the first Women’s Niagara Bowling Hall of Fame in 1985. She also was presented with a Life Time Award from Parent Teacher Association of 79th Street Schools. The Girl Scouts awarded her for her dedicated service and she was awarded with Niagara University 20th Anniversary Learn and Serve Niagara Honors in 2014. Hope taught Sunday school for over fifty years, she babysat her Grandchildren, worked at a Pine Avenue Coffee Shop waitressing with her Mom. While her two granddaughters were enrolled in Prince of Peace School, she subbed as a teacher, and worked in the cafeteria serving lunch. They eventually made her the Manager and Cook and she spent 9+ years there. She also directed Prince of Peace Summer Bible School for the Parish. She was elected an Elder at her Church Riverside Presbyterian in LaSalle and served 8 full terms plus 2 years, 26 in total, she also was a Deacon Moderator Working Leader Starter. She even took over and managed her Church when they were looking for a new Minister – one of her GREATEST experiences. She remained very active in her Church and was a regular volunteer over the years at Heart, Love and Soul located on Ontario Avenue.  Recently Hope was included in Hanci Faces of Niagara and was so honored to be nominated by the Beta Sigma Phi Ladies for this special booklet.  Hope was a HUGE Yankee baseball fan and loved playing it when she was young. She has always remembered Lou Gehrig when he had to quit playing and saying his last words to his fans. She loved this line of his and changed it to appropriate GENDER… "I consider myself the luckiest woman on the face of this earth.”  

Hope is survived by five children, Arthur (Sonya) Novak, Mark (Diane) Novak, Perry (Kim) Novak, Holly (Terry) Kennerknecht and her beloved daughter Hopey; eight grandchildren, Desi, Darci, Alexis, Jesse, Mark, Kim, Frank, Jon; twelve great-grandchildren; ten great-great-grandchildren; one brother Earl, two sisters and several nieces and nephews.  Her youngest brother Frank predeceased her.

There will be no prior visitation.  Arrangements are under the direction of Michael R. Goodlander or OTTO REDANZ FUNERAL HOME.  Please visit www.goodlandercares.com to share your sympathies with Hope’s family.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Evelyn Hope (Kostuk) Novak, please visit our floral store.