Sylvia M. Schuda

Sylvia's interests before losing much of her eyesight to macular degeneration in her late eighties were many. She played her piano, crocheted more than 100 "afghans" for nearly every friend and relative; worked crossword puzzles daily ( the more challenging the better), read romantic novels, and closely followed the nation's political scene. Her current biggest interest is her two children. The secret to her 100 year, longevity must have been her active and curious mind, unbound energy, her independent attitude and intelligence. In the 1930s and early 1940s, Sylvia was among the nation's small group of X-ray technicians, a time when that occupation demanded more knowledge of radiation than it does with today's technolgy. She was the first president of the Idaho Society of X-ray Technicians, and worked in her field in Omaha, Neb., Boise, Ida., and, finally Spokane, Wash., where she met her future husband. Joe Schuda was stationed there for training before the Army deployed him to the war in Europe. A Kansas native and the eldest of five siblings in her ranching family, Sylvia had a lot of responsibility for her brothers and sisters in her youth. When she entered college in the midst of the nation's depression, she was aware that the family's funds had to extend for many years to give the younger kids a chance for higher education too. So after a year, she jumped into working world where she found her engaging, ground-breaking career. When Sylvia moved to Pittsburgh, PA, with her husband at the war's end, she was the first member of Joe's family who did not speak polish. She adjusted to the urban lifestyle and that city became her home until 2006, when she moved to Arlington, Virginia to be near her daughter. She celebrated her 100 birthday with her son Felix, daughter Josephine, daughter in-law Kathy, and friends at Sunrise Senior Living.