Evelyn May Dumanski (nee D’Ascenzo) passed away peacefully at Hazeldean Gardens Retirement Home on January 19, 2026 at the age of 86. Evelyn was a devoted mother, step-mother grandmother, great grandmother, and friend who will always be remembered for her generosity, strength and the deep love she showed to everyone around her.
Evelyn was born on April 25, 1939 and raised in the Preston area of Ottawa, Ontario. Her father Dominic D’Ascenzo worked as the head bartender at the Prescott Hotel, where her mother Lucy made pizzas and meatball sandwiches in the kitchen. She grew up in a modest home heated by a wood stove, without indoor plumbing, and rooms shared with extended family. These early years shaped her strong work ethic and habit of opening her home to others.
She met her first husband Denzil Gervais as a teenager while attending Commerce High School in the village. The two were married on August 18, 1958. Evelyn then became a mother at just 20 years old. She raised three energetic boys Alan, David and Brian, largely on her own after Denzil’s sudden passing, and worked as a government administrative assistant. She taught her sons the value of hard work, perseverance and resilience. Their home was always a welcoming place with friends coming and going.
Later in life, Evelyn came home talking about a handsome man she’d met at work named Julian Dumanski. It was clear that Julian was drawn to her warmth, confidence and sense of humour. They were married on June 28, 1997. Together they loved entertaining friends and family, travelling around the world to destinations including Portugal, Costa Rica and Italy, and you could often find them taking advantage of happy hour at their local pub. They were partners in everything for almost 50 years until Julian’s passing last year. She was proud of her blended family and the life they built together.
Evelyn made friends everywhere she went, including friends she made around the world from her travels. Closer to home, she was very close with Hazel Porreca, Shirley Kelly and many others.
Evelyn was an incredible seamstress, knitter and crafter. She was legendary in bingo halls and casinos - if she took your spot at the slot machine, it was her lucky day, not yours. She had a talent for turning ordinary moments into hilarious stories. You’d usually hear Evelyn’s iconic laugh before you saw her, a laugh that her family and friends will remember forever.
Above all else, Eveyln loved people. She took so much pride in helping others and found happiness making someone else’s life just a little bit easier, a quality that defined her throughout her life.
Evelyn is remembered by her sons Alan Gervais (Olga Gervais), David Gervais (Nina Rulli) and Brian Gervais (Susan Gervais); her step-sons Warren Dumanski (Joanne Dumanski) and Ian Dumanski (Karen Dumanski); and her step-daughter Anita Dumanski (Greg Marley). She will be missed dearly by her grandchildren, Brittany, Maddison and Emmett Gervais; Elisha Rulli; Oliver and Alison Gervais; Kristen, Rebecca and Matthew Dumanski; Cameron, Lucas and Noah Marley; and Katie, Matthew, Kolby Dumanski and great-granddaughter Milly-Rose.
The family would like to thank the amazing staff at Hazeldean Gardens Retirement Home for their attentive care during the final three weeks of her life.
A Celebration of Life will take place at Beechwood Funeral, Cemetery and Cremation Services (280 Beechwood Ave, Ottawa ON) on Saturday April 25th at noon followed by a reception.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Evelyn’s memory to the Heart and Stroke Foundation.