Sylvia Lichtenstein Silven

Sylvia Lichtenstein Silven passed away on September 5, 2019. Sylvia was a beloved wife of 52 years, mother of four children, grandmother, sister, aunt, and dear friend to many. She was the love of her husband Jack's life until his death in 1999. Sylvia was born in Kaufman, Texas, graduated from the University of Oklahoma, and attended graduate school in Social Work at the University of Chicago. She worked in that field in New York City for some time before her marriage. After the birth of her four children, she attended Southern Methodist University to earn her Master's degree in Spanish, and taught Spanish and French for over 50 years. Her students loved her and often spoke about what a huge difference she made in their lives. Sylvia had remarkable energy. She maintained a busy social calendar and was a lover of travel, theater, music, painting, dance, opera, and volunteering. Singing in the Temple Emanu-El choir, for over 50 years, was one of her greatest joys. She was fun-loving, a child at heart, who found pleasure in little things - a beautiful flower, a pretty song, a nice painting, a butterfly. She would laugh until she cried while watching a funny Abbott and Costello routine, she took great delight in eating a chocolate-dipped Dairy Queen ice cream cone. She looked in awe at a field of Texas bluebonnets, and she was excited like a child on vacation whenever she was at the ocean. She would dance and sing when she would hear music, like a Frank Sinatra song, that brought back memories of the days she and Jack danced so wonderfully together. Sylvia brought into our lives her wonderful sisters, Leah and Rachel, and her equally wonderful parents - our "Nanny" and "Pampa" Lichtenstein whom we will always love and remember with much affection. We have loved seeing Sylvia and her sisters laughing over the years as they told us stories about their childhood in Kaufman, Texas. Sylvia is survived by her four children, Karen and her husband Win, Laura and her husband Walter, Peggy and her husband Chris, and David and his partner Doug; her three grandchildren, Julia and her husband José, Lauren and her partner Rob, and Daniel and his wife Perry; her sister Rachel; her nieces Cheryl, Janet, Marcie, Kerry, Beth, Debbie, Jackie, and Lisa and nephew Michael; and her cousins, great-nieces and great-nephews. She will be dearly missed.

Sylvia Lichtenstein Silven

August 9, 1923 - September 5, 2019