Evelyn Mae Cryans

Evelyn Mae Cryans, 94, of 25 Oak Hill Avenue, Littleton, went home to the Lord on June 29, 2018 at the Lafayette Center in Franconia following a period of failing health.

Mrs. Cryans was born on August 19, 1923, in East Haven, Vermont, the middle of three daughters born to Melvin B. Howard and Ida (Austin) Howard. Evelyn was educated at area schools and briefly worked in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, before moving to Littleton in 1943.

At the conclusion of the Second World War, Evelyn met her future husband, who had served in the Pacific Ocean Theater in the United States Army. Evelyn was married to Andrew William Cryans at the Church of Saint Rose of Lima on January 25, 1947. Five children were born to their union: Andrew William, Jr., Michael James, Jeffrey Howard, Lorie Ann, and Stephen Paul.

The Cryans family were long time members of Saint Rose of Lima Parish and Andrew and Evelyn were involved in a myriad of activities focused on the Parish School, including fund-raising, religious education and outreach programs. Evelyn was a member of the Catholic Women's Club, the music appreciation society, and she and her husband contributed many volunteer hours at the Littleton Senior Center.

Both in her life and in the days since her death, Evelyn is being fondly remembered as a person who provided an axis around which love might gather and flourish. A lady of remarkable faith and courage, her passing is best summed up in the words recorded in Psalm 116:

"O precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of His faithful." (Psalm 116:6)

Evelyn was predeceased by her parents, her sisters Alberta and Mildred. Her husband, Andrew, died in 2009 after 62 years of marriage; their children, Lorie Ann in 2011; and Jeffrey Howard in 2014. Stephen Paul, having died at birth.

Surviving are sons Fr. Andrew W. Cryans, Jr., Pastor of St. Thomas More Parish in Durham; Michael J. Cryans (and wife Julie) of Hanover; son-in-law Mark Fields of Manchester, and seven grand-children: Cameron Cryans of Denver, Colorado, Heather Cryans of Santiago, Chile, Tory Fancher of Jackson Hole, Wyoming; Colby Cryans-Fiester of Tuscon, Arizona, Miranda Fields of Haverhill, Mass., Connor Cryans of Hanover, N.H., and Christopher Fields of Fort Meade, Maryland; 11 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

The Mass of Christian Burial for Evelyn Cryans will be celebrated Thursday, July 5, at 10am, preceded by a calling hour at 9am in the Church, with the Reverend Andrew W. Cryans, Jr., presiding, assisted by long-time family friend, Reverend John P Rosson, Pastor of St. Mary Church in Cooperstown, N.Y., and Reverend Mark Dollard, Pastor of Saint Rose of Lima Church. Interment will follow at the family plot in St. Rose of Lima Cemetery.

The family requests that memorial donations be given, in her memory, to the Littleton Senior Center, P.O Box 98, Littleton, N.H. 03561 or Saint Rose of Lima Parish, 77 Clay Street, Littleton.