Evangelina (Eva) Mohammed, loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away Monday, Feb. 13, 2023, at Rocky Mountain Care-Willow Springs in Tooele.
Eva was born Nov. 2, 1937, in Litchfield Park, Arizona, to Elvira Diaz. She grew up in extreme poverty in Glendale, Arizona, with her sister Esther and brother David. They endured living in homes with dirt floors. The wind coming through the holes in the walls was their air conditioning during the hot summers and nemesis on cold winter nights. Empty jelly jars were their glassware. Eva recounted her first Christmas gift as her favorite. It was a used, no name brand doll, with one bad eye gifted to her by a charity. She recounted how that gift, that one act of kindness, made her the happiest girl in the world. Her mom had no money, and at times went hungry so that Eva and her siblings could eat. Her mom defended her family fearlessly. Any man who treated her children poorly was asked to leave or, in some cases, physically chased away. From this, Eva learned sacrifice and selflessness, that money was something, but love was everything. These lessons set the foundation for how she would live her life.
Eva graduated from Glendale High School in 1955. She fell for a tall, handsome army soldier from her hometown, Abraham Mohammed, and they married July 26, 1958. On July 26, 1960, they had their first son Greg on their second wedding anniversary. Three months later they moved to Tooele to start life in a new place. After four years, they moved to southern California, eventually buying a house in San Dimas, California. The family moved to Dugway in January of 1970.
At the center of Eva’s life were her three sons Greg, Paul, and Joe. Eva worked many years as the school librarian at Dugway High School, helping students not only find books and complete assignments but providing refuge and friendship for those who needed someone to talk to. With three sons playing every sport at Dugway High school, Eva and Abraham spent seasons of football, basketball, and baseball, attending many hours of back-to-back games, supporting each son. Eva took pride in her boys such that they had the cleanest, best ironed uniforms and whitest tube socks in high school sports. In fact, when the youngest son Joe’s Dugway team won the 1A state basketball championship, Eva washed the entire team’s uniforms, ensuring they looked the part.
At Dugway, the Mohammed home was a warm and welcoming place, and Eva became a second mom to many. Butch, Jeff, and Pancho may claim the most visits, but there was always someone there at the home besides Greg, Paul, and Joe. Sometimes this backfired. During the Christmas holidays one year, Eva spent all day making tamales for family and friends. With school out, Greg and Paul invited friends over to the house that night when their parents were out for the evening. Greg and Paul’s many friends, not knowing what a tamale was, were encouraged to try one. After one, they were all hooked and kept eating them until full. When Eva returned home, half of her day’s work was gone. Greg said she acted “mad” when she got home, but a slight smile gave away the fact that she was proud she’d made so many of them happy.
Being a mother was Eva’s pride and joy. She raised Greg, Paul, and Joe who all earned college degrees and went on to serve society. After Greg graduated from high school, that left one bed open, and it was taken by Pancho Ng who now serves in the FBI. After Paul and Joe graduated, she raised her niece Elizabeth until she graduated from Dugway High School as well. Even after Elizabeth graduated, Eva helped raise her kids Joaquin, Hailee, and Kayla.
Paul, Eva’s second son, was diagnosed with kidney cancer at the end of 2019. He succumbed to the disease in June 2020. This loss broke the hearts of the family, but especially Eva. Because of COVID, Eva couldn’t be with Paul until the very end. His passing devastated her.
A devout Catholic, Eva attended church on Sundays for most of her years, communing with friends and neighbors. The slot machines often favored Eva, and she enjoyed going to Wendover for tournaments and weekend getaways. Above all, Eva loved spending time with her family. When out to dinner, she would often see people she knew and proudly introduce them to “mis hijos,” her sons. Often, just when everyone was finished eating, Eva would order another cup of coffee, which she would order at any meal, and family would have to settle back in. Leaving the restaurant was never quick either as Eva would chat with people she knew and even those she did not on the way out — babies and young children were her Achilles heel. Now what we wouldn’t give to have one more cup of coffee with Mom.
In the end, a stroke, dementia, broken bones from falls, and arthritis ravaged Eva. Nonetheless, every person who met her would comment how much they enjoyed being in her company and her dry wit. Her fire may have been extinguished, but the warmth it created will live on in each of us who were touched by her. Honor her by spreading that warmth.
Eva is survived by her husband Abraham Mohammed, Tooele; children Greg (Liz) Mohammed, Salt Lake City; Joe (Kim) Mohammed, West Jordan; daughter-in-law, Connie Mohammed, Phoenix; grandchildren Anthony (Sydney) Mohammed, Eugene; Hillary (Taylor) Mohammed-Craig, Midvale; Hannah Mohammed, Salt Lake City; Adriana Mohammed, Phoenix; great-grandchild Magnolia Mohammed, Eugene; niece Elizabeth De La Torres, Phoenix; grandnephew Joaquin Kewan, Virginia; grandnieces Kayla Hodge, Hailee Hodge, Brooklyn Hodge, Phoenix; cousin Sally Allaire, Phoenix. She was preceded in death by her mother Elvira Diaz, sister Esther Rios, brother David De La Torres, son Paul Mohammed, and friends Barbara Stephens and Lela McCurdy.
Eva’s family would like to thank the staff at Rocky Mountain Care-Willow Springs and Our House Assisted Living for their care in her final days.
A visitation will be held Thursday, Feb. 23, 6 – 8 p.m., at Tate Mortuary, 110 S. Main St., Tooele, Utah.
Family and friends are welcome to attend the funeral services. Funeral services will begin at 10:30 a.m., Friday, Feb. 24, at Saint Marguerite Catholic Church, 15 S. 7th Street, Tooele, Utah.
Prior to mass, a visitation will be held from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m., and a rosary will take place from 10:30 to 11 a.m. There will be a luncheon for all at 12 p.m. Interment of the ashes will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Salt Lake City, at a future date.