Page created by: Terri Burge

Dear friends and family:

Mother, grandmother and friend Evelyn Mae Scharler passed away on Sunday, July 31st in Walnut Creek, California surrounded by family members and loving caregivers.

Evelyn struggled with Parkinson’s for nearly 14 years. At the end of the journey with this degenerative disease, she began experiencing seizures that led to her passing. Even though we are extremely sad about her passing, we also realize she suffered greatly during the last years of her life and she is now at peace in the afterlife.

Evelyn was born on May 18, 1940 in Uniontown, Pennsylvania to Alberta Kaprive and Albert Pfeffer, from families that emigrated from Europe. She attended All Saints High School, and married her high school sweetheart John Peter Scharler at All Saints Church in Masontown, Pennsylvania in June of 1958. Together, they raised 5 children in cities including Pittsburgh, PA; Cleveland, OH; St. Louis, MO and Glendale, CA. As a couple, they explored Spain, Austria, Hawaii, and the Cayman Islands. As a family, they traveled to locations including Montreal and Quebec, Pike’s Peak, Yosemite, Yellowstone National Park and Lake of the Ozarks. Evelyn’s love of sweets and dining out made her a local fixture at restaurants especially The Cheesecake Factory, and her enjoyment of music included her favorites Elvis Presley, Barry Manilow and The Three Tenors. Her fascination with insects made her an armchair entomologist who welcomed one too many critters into the home – often at the consternation of her family. 

She will join her deceased son Johnny Scharler, sister Bonnie Pfeffer Gaza and her parents in the afterlife. She is survived by ex-husband John Scharler, her children Mark Scharler, Lori Scharler Schwartz, Terri Scharler Burge and Melanie Scharler, as well as her eight grandchildren: Jennifer Scharler, Michael Scharler, Kristen Scharler, Matthew Burge, Geoffrey Burge, Nathan Burge, Anna Schwartz and Lana Schwartz.

The family is honoring her with a private celebration of life. In lieu of flowers or gifts, we ask that anyone who would like to acknowledge her to kindly make a donation to the Michael J Fox Foundation in her name.

With love and blessings,
The Scharler Family