Evangeline H. Nicas

LEICESTER / CENTERVILLE — Evangeline Nicas, a devoted daughter, sister, aunt and friend who became known as the smiling face at the front of the Castle Restaurant for the better part of 50 years, died on Wednesday, July 12th. at her home in Centerville, Mass. She was 70.
She leaves her brother, James, and wife Denise; niece, Nicole, and husband Joshua; nephew, Alexander, and wife Bianca; nephew, Charles; niece, Laurier, and husband Andrew; nephew, Jack; and great nephews and nieces, Desmond, Maxwell, Theo, Lucia and Violet. Her parents, Stanley and Helen Nicas, and her brother, John, passed before her.
Evangeline was born in Worcester, Mass., in 1952. Her earliest memories were of working in her parents' restaurant and dairy bar, the Castle, on the shores of Lake Sargent in Leicester. It was a place she would come to know well.
She graduated from Marian High School and received her bachelor's and master's degrees from Anna Maria College. For several years, she taught junior high at area schools while also working full-time at the Castle. Eventually, she focused entirely on helping her family build the business, as the Castle Restaurant expanded into an internationally renowned dining destination — that stone castle, complete with a moat, along Route 9.
At the Castle, Evangeline worked alongside her mother Helen managing the books and warmly welcoming customers, putting a family touch on a fine-dining experience. She ran the bar and, with her wit and personality, made many friends and repeat customers. She also helped her father Stanley build out a network of chef and dining associations around the country. And in her later years, she owned and ran the restaurant with her brother Jim and sister-in-law Denise.
Evangeline, however, was far more than just the woman who handed out the roses at the Castle. In her younger years, she got her pilot's license. She was an avid collector of antiques, attending auctions and having furniture restored. She befriended and supported local artists, including Jacob Knight, Gary Lippincott and Brandon Estrella. And she built a wide network of friends, spending hours chatting on the phone and often hosting dinner parties at her home, a sort of museum of art and artifacts from near and far.
Evangeline doted on her family, especially in her role as aunt and godmother. She took her nieces and nephews on trips to the Grand Canyon, Hershey Park, a cruise in the eastern Mediterranean and, in a show of her selfless love and patience, even to professional wrestling events. She was on time with a card at every holiday, a meal out on every visit home, and a joke, a hug, a piece of baklava or a big belly laugh whenever it was needed.
She was famous for her generosity, with frequent donations to a long list of charities, including Shriners Children's Hospital, the Audubon Society, the National WWII Museum and Doctors Without Borders. And at every Christmas, she delivered a creative collection of thoughtful gifts for friends and family that she had built throughout the year. Days before her death, she remarked she had already nearly finished her Christmas shopping for the year.
Calling hours are from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Tuesday, July 18th. in the MORIN FUNERAL HOME, 1131 Main St., Leicester, followed by a graveside service at Hope Cemetery, Worcester. A luncheon at the Castle Cantina will follow. Any friends who would like to share stories at the luncheon are welcome. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Leicester Library (Trustees), 1136 Main St., Leicester, MA 01524.