Dr. Silvia Elena Pites left this world on October 15, 2019, at the ripe old age of none-of-your-business, after a valiant but ultimately unsuccessful battle with cancer, surrounded by family and friends who love her dearly. Fittingly, she departs in the autumn, her favorite time of year.
We use the word “valiant” because it sounds very literary, and for anyone who knew her, they will recognize how fitting that word is, as she was known for her love of literature, poetry, and the arts. She was also valiant in every sense of the word.
Silvia was born in [year redacted] in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where a piece of her heart stays. Unprompted, she began studying English at the age of five, and at the age of 18 left her beloved family and “Eternal City” to move to the United States by herself. This was characteristic of her as a strong woman who took bold risks. She began studying at Brigham Young University, and while there met and married Jack W. Crowell, started a family, and became a U.S. citizen.
After 12 years of marriage and an unfortunate divorce, she made the best of a difficult situation, as she always did. She finished the few classes she had left to complete her Bachelorʼs degree at BYU and then moved with her children to Lawrence, Kansas, where she completed her Masterʼs and Doctorate degrees (emphasis in Latin American literature) at the University of Kansas.
Silvia was a lifelong and tremendously dedicated educator and mentor. She taught as a graduate student while at KU, and after receiving her PhD, took a position teaching at Truman State University (then Northeast Missouri State University – go Bulldogs!) where she eventually became a full tenured professor. During her nearly 30 years at Truman State, she also took students to Salamanca, Spain every summer for Study Abroad.
She always had an inquisitive mind, which led her to pursue challenging goals and share her passion and gusto for life with her family and friends. She was blessed with the opportunity to touch the lives of countless students, many of whom became lifelong friends with her.
After her fulfilling and rich career at Truman, she took a well-deserved retirement in 2017 to focus on her health and personal interests, including doing extensive genealogy work, reading from her favorite books, corresponding with friends and relatives all over the world, and visiting them as occasion permitted.
In addition to her impressive education and formidable professional résumé, she was a true Renaissance woman – highly intelligent, cultured, well-traveled, and an all-around amazing person. She believed that being well-traveled was among the highest of personal achievements, and it is difficult to argue otherwise. She spoke five languages fluently and witnessed the wonders of this world. One of her many professional accomplishments was recording the last speakers of a dying language, the recordings of which have been preserved for posterity.
However, Silvia's most cherished role by far was always that of being a proud mother of three sons and loving grandmother of seven beautiful grandchildren, at which she excelled beyond measure. Her family was the most valued part of her life, and she treasured every opportunity she had to spend time with them. One of the highlights of her life was her yearly journey to Buenos Aires to see her siblings, nieces, and nephews, as well as sharing these experiences with her sons and grandchildren. When her three youngest grandchildren were first informed that she might not be spending her last days in their home, they adamantly rebelled (and won), demonstrating not only their devotion to her, but also the legacy of strength and dissidence she is leaving behind.
Silvia lived a full and rich life during her time here on this earth, at the core of which was being a faithful member of and serving in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints from the age of 12. Of her many church service callings, the one she esteemed the most was serving in the St. Louis, Missouri Temple. She also served her community by volunteering at women’s shelters. Silvia exerted the effort and Christlike love to be accepting of anyone and everyone she encountered, and always made it a point to treat everyone as an equal, regardless of background, situation, or status.
Silvia will always be lovingly remembered by her sons, Jonathan W. (Kristen) Crowell, Benjamin J. (Sara) Crowell, and Zachary A. (Megan) Crowell, as well as by her grandchildren, Samuel W., Finn M., and Alexander J. Crowell, Hannah M. Toomay, and Quinton M.T., Alexander M.J., and Joseph M.J. Cantrell. She will also be lovingly remembered by her siblings, Aurora, Mirta (Fabio), Cristina, and Carlos (Analía). She was preceded in death by her parents, Hector L. and María del Carmen (Gonzáles) Pites, and brothers-in-law, Ricardo Fossatti and José Santero.
Silvia leaves us a rich legacy of love for family, endurance, achievement, faith, and the desire for searching for knowledge and truth. While we speak of her in the past tense, we know that she still is and will always be with us in many meaningful ways.
In lieu of flowers or donations, Silvia asked that you do something simple: just love and serve the people you love. Reach out, mend fences and rebuild bridges as needed, say youʼre sorry even when you don't feel you're at fault, give the gift of listening, and above all, give lots of extra hugs. Spend more time with your loved ones today, because there will be a time when you canʼt, and it will come much sooner than you think.
With heavy but grateful hearts, we bid her farewell for now, as she gracefully slips off on her voyage into the eternities. Her own beauty as a daughter of God is aptly reflected in the way she leaves this world behind: warmer, brighter, and more beautiful than she found it.
We love and thank you, Mom, and we look forward to seeing you again on the other side. Much love and thanks to you all.
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