Sylvia Romano Jacobs

Sylvia Jacobs passed away in Coronado, California surrounded by her family. Sylvia was very proud to be from San Diego and grew up in the Logan Heights neighborhood. She was an only child to John and Kathryn Romano.

Sylvia attended Memorial Junior High and Snyder Continuation where she met her first husband, Bruce Clark. They married in 1956 and had 4 daughters during their 17-year marriage. Sylvia met James Jacobs in 1973 in El Cajon, they had 2 children and have lived a long and happy life together ever since. Sylvia is survived by her husband James, their children Katherine Clark, Deidre (Dan) Harris, Michele Fenlon, Mary Rogers, Daniel Jacobs and Jaime Jacobs, 15 beloved grandchildren and 18 precious great-grandchildren as well as many lifelong friends. In addition to being a dedicated home maker, Sylvia left us a lifetime of volunteer work. She had a smile that could light up any room and she will be greatly missed by all those who love her.

Gammie (Sylvia) cannot be summed up in one particular memory or story; she was a feeling. A feeling of warmth, love and security. She embodied all the qualities that you want and envision in a grandma. She gave the best heartfelt squishy hugs. Her skin was soft and buttery. She had a smile that could light up a room and kept everyone in stitches with her great sense of humor. She was quick to give out a compliment, always noticing a new outfit or lip shade. She was a great confidant and steadfast friend. She brought out the magic in every holiday, by baking yummy goodies and decorating impeccably, whether it was Easter or Christmas. Everything she did was infused with love. Her home was always warm and inviting. She insisted on filling your belly with homemade food, no matter how full you were. She never forgot a birthday and knew everyone’s favorite flavor and would bake the best homemade cake on their special day. Her secret ingredient was surely love, because, man, were her cakes good!

She had a knack for picking out the best gifts – things you’d never think to buy yourself, but would undoubtedly treasure. And she was so dang hip she’d even buy the latest tech gadget or newest pop CD for her grandkids, as soon as they came out. She even started buying Christmas gifts in February this year, because she didn’t want to forget anyone – a sign perhaps, that she knew she wouldn’t be around. But that was Gammie. She wanted to make our days special, even if she couldn’t be there to do it herself. She diligently sent out birthday cards or packages to those that lived out of town, even though I know she would’ve preferred to hug us in person. (One year she even called to apologize that my card would be late because she’d just gotten released from the hospital. I was amazed she even remembered!)

Getting one-on-one time with her was tough, considering she had 6 kids, 15 grandkids, 18 great-grandkids, a husband, a dog, and countless lifelong friends. How she kept up with them all, I’ll never know. But she never failed to make time for each and every one, in some way, however small. She believed in handwritten birthday cards, personal phone calls, regular lunch dates and pedicure appointments with her nearest and dearest. And though it may have been hard to get her all to yourself, when you did, she had the ability to make you feel like you were the only person in the world. There was nothing else that was more important to her than being with you in that moment. She didn’t check her phone, wasn’t distracted by the television, never rushed you out – all that mattered was you. She’d ask who you were dating, how work was going, what was new – and she’d hang on to your every word with the sincerest eyes and keenest interest.

Family came first and foremost to her, with her friend’s right up there alongside them. She shared a special bond with all of her children and grandchildren, fixing to each of them at different times throughout the years, over a wide variety of things, but never failing to find a connection. She was there for all of our prom nights, countless graduations, and every birth and wedding she could get to. There was nothing more important to her than being a mother and a grandmother. She lived for those moments: to cradle a newborn baby, to watch the grandkids rip open presents on Christmas day, to see our eyes light up to birthday candles, to watch the kids hunt for Easter eggs, to see us dressed up in our Sunday best. These things meant everything to her, and the magic she brought about in all of those milestones, meant everything to us. She will never be replaced or forgotten, because she has left a mark in all of our hearts, with her smile, her laughter, her thoughtfulness, and her love.