Eva Marie Tax

Eva Marie Tax, 93 of Danville, Indiana was peacefully born into eternal life on December 13, 2019 in the loving care of her family.

Eva was born February 28, 1926 in Prague, Czechoslovakia to Eugene and Anna (Lukešova) Suchy. She endured the hardships of World War II first-hand, yet still attended business school which would lead to her eventual position as a Statistical Analyst for Rutgers University.  On September 1, 1947 she was wed to Stanley Tax, Sr. a loving union that would last until his passing in 2007.

Survivors include her children: John (wife Yan) Tax, Stanley Tax, Jr, Thomas Tax, Eva Tax, Anna (Husband Tim) Wray, and Marie Tax; sister, Olga Klatilova; grandchildren, Christopher, Matthew, and Andrew Wray; Alex, Nicholas, Lucas Tax; Amber, Shane, and Cullen McNally; and eight great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her son, Paul Tax.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be Celebrated at 11 am, Tuesday, December 17, 2019 in Mary Queen of Peace Catholic Church, Danville, Indiana, where friends and family will gather from 10 am until the time of the Mass. Inurment will be at a later date in St. Malachy West Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate Mass Intentions be made to Mary Queen of Peace, where Eva was a devoted parishioner for over 31 years.

Arrangements are entrusted to the care of funeral director Eric MD Bell of Pittsboro.  All are encouraged to keep Eva’s family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time of passing.  May her soul and the souls of all the faithfully departed rest in peace, Amen.

——— From the Family ——-

Mom was the elder of two girls born in Prague, Czechoslovakia.  As a teenager she survived the Nazi invasion as well as accidental bombing by Americans.  Communists took over the country and were after my father so they decided to leave the country.  The Communists had closed the border and anyone caught fleeing or aiding escapers would end up in prison or shot.

As a result Mom and Dad created a plan to escape.  To prevent any reprisals by authorities, they could not afford to tell any family members of their pending escape attempt.  They used the pretext of celebrating their 1st wedding anniversary at a resort near the German border.

Mom, six months pregnant with her 1st child not only had the normal worries and concerns of becoming a mother, whether it would go to term, and whether the baby would be healthy, she also had the additional burden of the possibility of getting shot, imprisoned, and what would become of her first born.

They did not have a clear idea of where to go other than into former enemy territory, Germany, then on to America.  Mom knew no english.  Thanks to the Nazi occupation our parents learned german and once past the armed guards stationed in border towers they asked directions to get asylum.  They ended up in a refugee camp.  Thanks to Dad’s self-taught command of English he got a job with United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRA).  It still took two years to get sponsorship to emigrate to America.  Mom had given birth to two of us while in that primitive chaotic camp.

She got a serious fright when it was time to leave and the younger child was feverish which would make the trip impossible.  Fortunately the fever broke.  Mom was a fast learner and quickly gained command of English.  She went on to have five more of us.  She was an awesome human being with boundless love.  She nursed all seven of us through various childhood diseases and mishaps while keeping us well fed on Dad’s meager salary.  In spite of this, and being nearly 94, her hair never went completely grey.  We miss youalways. You are in our hearts indelibly.  You are leaving an incredible legacy.