Neta Kolasa, PsyD

Kolasa, Dr. Neta Marie Evans, DM died on Wednesday, April 15, 2020 at her home.  She is now reunited with her precious husband, John Kolasa, in oneness with their God.  In commitment to the deep personal love Neta and John shared for one another, they had become one flesh, one heart and true soul mates.  Neta clearly understood, prayed for and lovingly embraced the inevitability of her own death knowing that only time separated her from her beloved.  Now they share in the life of God for all eternity.

When John died Neta was devastated.  She experienced the tremendous pain of life without her chosen partner.  But with prayer, hard grief work, and the help of friends (whom Neta always called her angels), she did not remain long “in darkness and the shadow of death.” (Luke 1:79)

Dr. Kolasa served as a member of the Board of Trustees, the Finance Committee and the Investment Committee at Barry University.  She continued to support the Kolasa Scholarship Fund for the School of Social Work.  The dedication and blessing ceremony of the John and Neta Kolasa Hall was one of the great blessings of her life.  She was a member of the Society of Founders and the Covenant Society at Barry.

Dr. Kolasa was a Dame of Magistral Grace in the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta, or simply, The Order of Malta.  It is the oldest lay religious order in The Roman Catholic Church and the only order where women are accepted in full equality with men.

A member of St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, she served on the Finance Council, the Budget Committee and as a Eucharistic Minister.  She was also active in the Council of Catholic Women, the Bereavement Support Group and was the first official member of the Arc-Angel Society.

She generously supported Catholic Charities, the Gregorian University Foundation, the Pontifical North American College, the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums, the Delray Beach Chorale, the Merton Institute and WPBT Channel 2.

In addition, Dr. Kolasa served on the following community service organizations:  The Center for Group Counseling, the American Tinnitus Association Support Group, the Pritikin Support Group and the Community Counseling Services.

Dr. Kolasa believed that her fearless and tireless efforts in pursuit of total equality for women would ultimately result in, by small increments, complete success.  This philosophy motivated her to active membership in Planned Parenthood, National Organization of Women and the Women’s Ordination Conference.

She supported the right to self-determination for all people through membership in Pax Christi, the Hemlock Society, End-of-Life Choices, ERGO (Euthanasia Research & Guidance Org.), Final Exit Network, Death with Dignity National Center (DDNC), DIGNITAS, Call to Action, Voice of the Faithful and Catholics Speak Out.

Dr. Kolasa personally managed her entire estate; the Kolasa Trust and the Kolasa Foundation, the vehicle through which she did her philanthropic work – to be carried on by her beloved family.

She was a modern-day woman and had the spirit of an adventurer.  At 66 she learned to fly a Cessna 172 airplane that she named “Aghadoe,” which means “near to God” in Gaelic.  Travel was her great passion and she circumnavigated the world three times.

She managed her life interests while maintaining and understanding of and appreciation for God’s love.  Her most admirable quality was her spirituality, which was exhibited by her love for all people and her indefatigable compassion extended to those in need.

She now hears the comforting words, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant:  thou hast been faithful… enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” (Matthew 25:21)

Neta is survived by cousins, nieces, nephews and many friends.

Contributions to The Kolasa Foundation in lieu of flowers would be welcome.

The Kolasa Foundation

c/o Bessermer Trust

222 Royal Palm Way

Palm Beach, FL  33480

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, September 9 at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in Boca Raton.

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