Evelyn “Evie”  Zagnit (Simpkins)

1922 – 2026

Evelyn “Evie”  Zagnit (Simpkins), of Ewing, New Jersey, passed away peacefully and surrounded by family on January 13, 2026 – her 104th birthday. Born in Rome, New York, she was a longtime resident of Ewing, New Jersey.

Evie was the daughter of the late Samuel and Fannie Simpkins and the beloved wife of the late Harold Zagnit. For 30 years she worked at Stacy’s, a well-known women’s clothing store in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, where she brought her impeccable fashion sense and warmth to generations of women.

Evie found joy in life’s simple pleasures. She loved taking walks, reading a good book, working on a jigsaw puzzle, playing in her weekly canasta and mahjong games, and knitting afghans for friends and family. Social by nature, she was always up for a dinner with friends, summer trips with family on Long Beach Island, or a shopping trip to Nordstrom with the great-grandchildren. 

Evie shared both her love and many talents with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, including teaching them to knit and play mahjong, (winning the last game they played together just a few months ago). She highly valued family and her lifelong female friendships. Quick to send a hand written note of encouragement or make a call to check in, being loved by Evie was a true gift. 

In the last several years she kept a strict schedule for viewing Mash reruns and Hallmark movies, kept up her ruthless mahjong play, and was always impeccably dressed.  

Evie was a lifetime member of Hadassah, a former member of Greenacres Country Club, volunteered at Greenwood House, and was a former member of Har Sinai Temple in Trenton.

Predeceased by her siblings, Beatrice Lazovik (Simpkins) and Herman Simpkins, she is survived by her loving children, son Ronald (and wife Joan) Wilson and daughter Wendy Feldman (Wilson), her beloved grandchildren, Heather Wilson, Scott (and wife Rachel) Feldman, Erik (and wife Hillary) Wilson, and Lisa Baines (Feldman), as well as six great-grandchildren, Max, Abigail, Samantha, Axel, Miles and Bennett. 

Cherished as a national treasure by her great-grandchildren, her active presence in their lives was a rare and precious blessing. 

Evie was an extraordinary family matriarch whose strength, kindness, and love has literally shaped generations. Her family celebrates her remarkable life. She was deeply loved—and loved well in return.

Funeral services are Friday, January 16 at 11:00 am at Orland’s Ewing Memorial Chapel, 1534 Pennington Road, Ewing, NJ. Burial will follow at Ewing Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made in her name to Greenwood House. 

OrlandsMemorialChapel.com/Evelyn-Zagnit