Evelyn Heid Reiff

Evelyn was born in Jersey City, New Jersey on November 10, 1926, she passed away on April 24, 2026, at the age of 99 years old. She was the daughter of Jospeh E. and Ethel Julia (Varga) Heid, who preceded her in death as well as her only brother Joseph E. Heid, Jr. and two nephews, Joseph E. Heid III and Randal Heid, along with her husband John Douglas Reiff.

Both of her parents and maternal grandmother immigrated to the United States in the late 1800’s and came through Ellis Island.

She was very proud of her heritage and spoke Hungarian fluently.

Evelyn grew up in North Bergen, NJ and graduated from Emerson High School in Union City, NJ in 1945.

She was an Honor Student throughout her high school years. She was the Drum Majorette for her HS Band and loved the excitement of the football games. Even over the years she would love to watch football games on television and root for her favorite teams. As for baseball, it was her Brooklyn Dodgers. “Root, root, root for the ball game if they don’t win it’s a shame” she’d sing.

Every New Years Eve at midnight she would get her pots and pans and clang them together it was her Cat Hollow Tradition, and it was loud!

Evelyn was one of the first few women to be hired by New Jersey Bell Telephone Company as a customer service representative.

She became a long-time resident of Downsville, New York after moving there in 1962.

Evelyn was the Upper East Coast Branch Manager for Sarah Coventry, a line of high-end costume jewelry, for many years and opened the door for many women in the local area to join the work force.

Getting a green thumb from her father, they built a glass green house on Cat Hollow. Where she grew her plants from seeds and became known for her designs of beautiful combination pots of plants as well as beautiful geraniums. People would come from all over to purchase them from Brock Mountain Greenhouse, later changed to Holly Berry Greenhouse.

Evelyn retired in 1994 from The National Bank of Delaware County, working at their Andes, NY location. She was a people person and loved meeting new people, old and young. Following the closing of the Greenhouse, Evelyn worked at Fisk’s Antique Shop in Andes, NY, she was 84 years old then.

Most important was her strong faith in God, she was an active member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Delhi, sang in the Choir for many years and also served in the Women’s Willing Group. Evelyn was in charge of the Cradle Roll as well as a member of the Evangelism Committee.

Evelyn was also a member of the Downsville Women’s group.

She is survived by three daughters: Jaylyn Diane Nosiay Bray and her husband Walter of Delhi, NY, Ilona Patricia Nosiay Cornwell and her husband David of Walton, NY and Holly Melinda Reiff of Downsville, NY; grandson: Daniel Joseph Roach of Oneonta, NY; granddaughter: Jennifer Beth Cohen of Boston, MA; great-granddaughter: Emma Jane Roach of Oneonta, NY; niece Lauren H. Hampton and husband Harry of Trenton, NJ; nephews: Gary Heid of Jamesburg, NJ, John Heid and wife Maria of Flemington, NJ; and Russel Heid of Rehoboth Beach, DE; and many great nieces and nephews.

Evelyn had enjoyed good health for most of her life; she was taught by her father “hard work never hurt anyone”, She was that all her life. Evelyn was still mowing her lawn at the age of 89.

A funeral service will be held at 11AM on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 565 Andes Road, Delhi, NY 13753, followed by a luncheon at the church. Burial and committal services will be at 3PM on Tuesday at Paige Cemetery, Downsville.

At Evelyn’s request, contributions in lieu of flowers can be made to the Immanuel Lutheran Church.

We pray, as Evelyn enters the Kingdom of Heaven, she greets old friends, family and most importantly her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. May the peace which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, Amen.

Rest in peace Mom, rest in peace…

Please visit www.macarthurfh.com to share a condolence with Evelyn’s family.