Evelyn Ann "Ev" Hovanec, 85 of Uniontown passed away on Thursday
March 2, 2023. Born December 23, 1937 in Uniontown, daughter of the late Andrew F. and Anne Elizabeth (Vrabel) Hovanec; In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers Andrew G. Hovanec
and Richard Hovanec. Left to cherish her memory are her sister-in-law
Linda Hovanec of Eugene, OR, her nieces Rebecca Hovanec of
Hanover, PA and Brenda Michelle (Mark) Ormesher, MD and nephew
Andrew Hovanec of Seattle, WA. Evelyn was a graduate of Mt. St.
Macrina High School, and Graduated from Duquesne University with a
Bachelor's of Education and a Masters of Arts Degree and received a
PH.D in English from the University of Pittsburgh in 1973. She taught at St. Joseph's Elementary School and the Pittsburgh Public Schools and
was Director of Academic Affairs at Penn State University, McKeesport Campus and retired in 2001 as an Associate Professor of English from
Penn State University. She returned to this area because of her
commitment for caring for people who lived in southwestern
Pennsylvania.
Dr. Evelyn Hovanec was a full-time professor at Penn State Fayette
since its inception in 1965. Her 35 years with Penn State University
were divided between teaching English and American Studies in
addition to administrative duties at both Penn State Fayette and Penn
State McKeesport, known today as Penn State Greater Allegheny.
Dr. Hovanec was one of the three founders of the Coal and Coke
Heritage Center located at Penn State Fayette and worked extensively to highlight the social and cultural importance of the region. Her Common
Lives of Uncommon Strength: The Women of the Coal and Coke Era has been described as a "significant contribution to understanding the many
interrelationships of coal mining and coke production within the family
structure."

The Coal and Coke Heritage Center at Penn State Fayette owes its
existence to Dr. Hovanec and her dedication to honoring and breathing
life back into the history of Fayette County and coal mining. Even after
her retirement, Dr. Hovanec dedicated her time to the center. She
continued to collect oral histories and worked with the various archivists to create the strongest and most accurate depiction of life within the coal mines.
Evelyn has also been active in local community activities with The
Fayette Friends of Animals (1999-2005) and in local governmental
affairs, having served on the Fayette County Planning and Development Commission (2008-2012).
Gifts in memory of Dr. Hovanec can be made to a fund she established
at Penn State Fayette at raise.psu.edu/EvelynHovanec or by mail to The
Pennsylvania State University, Office of Donor and Member Services –
Evelyn Hovanec, 2583 Gateway Drive, Suite 200, State College, PA
16801
Visitation at Stephen R. Haky Funeral Home, 603 N. Gallatin Ave. Ext
on Tuesday March 14th from 6-8 PM. Wednesday March 15th, Prayers
of Transfer at 9:30 AM followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00
AM at St. John the Evangelist Church, 50 Jefferson St. Uniontown.
Interment will be in St. Mary (Nativity) Cemetery, Uniontown, Your
personal written tributes and memories are welcome and encouraged at www.hakyfunearlhome.com