Sylvia Joyce Ellison Flynn

On Saturday, September 4th, our beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and dear friend passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by her loving family. Sylvia was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on April 22, 1933, to Robert and Dorothy Ellison. She was the youngest of eight children. Three of her sisters died prior to her birth. She was also preceded in death by her remaining four adult siblings. Sylvia was especially close to her sister Dorothy and her brother Cameron, who raised Sylvia for much of her life. At the age of 11, Sylvia left their care and moved to Detroit, Michigan to live with her mother and new stepfather, Ernie Clarke. At age 18, Sylvia met Richard Flynn of Salt Lake City - the man that would one day win her heart. At the time, “Elder” Flynn was serving as a missionary in the Great Lakes Mission for the LDS Church. A few years later, while attending college at BYU, she reconnected with Richard, and the two became inseparable. Two years later, on August 11, 1954, they were married in the Salt Lake Temple.

Immediately following the wedding, the couple moved to Baltimore, Maryland where Richard attended Medical School. Over the next 16 years they would welcome seven children: Shauna Hepworth (Robert), Richard Jeffery Flynn (Linda), Brent Cameron Flynn (Linda), Craig Ellison Flynn (DeAnne), Karen Flynn (Michelle), Heather Rayburn (Brad), and Barbara Bailey (Bill). It was Sylvia’s dream to have a large family.

Shauna and Jeff were born in Baltimore, during Medical School. Brent was later born in San Francisco, during Richard’s Internship and Residency. Three years later Craig was born in Staten Island, during Richard’s Pediatric Residency. With her husband at the hospital from early morning, until late at night, Sylvia attended to the many needs of four small children, while also taking a keen interest in genealogy – an interest that would become a lifelong dedication and passion.

In 1961, with medical training behind them, Sylvia and Richard moved their young family to Bountiful, Utah, where three more daughters, Karen, Heather and Barbara, completed their family. As Richard immersed himself into his growing pediatric practice, Sylvia took on the task of raising seven very active children, turning their house into a home, working on genealogy, joining the PTA, and becoming very involved with the Davis County Medical Auxiliary. Sylvia was a handiwork expert who always had a knitting, crocheting, or quilting project to work on. Late summers were filled with canning the peaches and apricots from their yard. Making beet juice jelly was one of Sylvia’s specialties.

Sylvia loved all holidays, especially Christmas. It was important for her to create the Christmas experience for her children that she did not have as a child. Each Christmas morning the family awoke to holiday music, beautiful handmade stockings filled to overflowing, twinkling lights on a white flocked Christmas tree, with an explosion of gifts surrounding it. Sylvia made Christmas the most loved and anticipated time of the year for her family.

Over the next decade, Richard’s ever-growing practice kept him from spending time with his young family, both impacting his family and his work-life balance. Recognizing the need to lighten his professional demands, Sylvia and Richard determined to change course. Richard subsequently completed a Radiology Residency and joined the Radiology Department at St. Marks Hospital. With this change the family moved to Salt Lake City in 1972.

Sylvia was a dynamic, energetic, driven woman, and a gifted leader. Throughout their Bountiful and Salt Lake years, Sylvia and Richard filled their family time with boating at Pine View, houseboating on Lake Powell, taking trips in their camper, joining tennis leagues, spending summer vacations on Capistrano Beach, and skiing each winter at Park City. Sylvia continued her Medical Auxiliary work and later served as President of the Utah State Medical Auxiliary. Sylvia also joined the Medical Auxiliary bowling league winning several bowling trophies. During this time, they joined the Salt Lake Tennis Club where Sylvia played tennis weekly with several close neighborhood friends. Her high lob was her secret weapon. Living in Salt Lake allowed Sylvia the chance to frequently visit the Genealogical Library where she painstaking researched the many branches of her family tree. She also joined the Hosting ranks at the LDS Church Office Building, where she later became the Director of Hosting. During that time, she met with dignitaries from around the world including, then Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher.

Retirement did not slow Sylvia down. She and Richard filled their retirement years cruising to many exciting ports and destinations with family; traveling to several interesting and educational Elder Hostels throughout the country; regularly attending the symphony and Hale Center Theater with friends and family; spending time at their winter home in Mesa, Arizona where she and Richard became expert partners playing Hand and Foot; holding family reunions on the South Lake Tahoe Keys; and bringing the grandkids together in her home every year for Pirate Bingo.

Over time, Sylvia’s family grew as they welcomed seven new in-laws, 50 grandchildren including their partners, and 19 great grandchildren with number 20 on the way. Throughout the years, and without a doubt, spending time with her large family was her treasured priority and brought Sylvia her greatest joy. Sylvia will be greatly missed. Her unequalled love, compassion and kindness brought joy to countless family and friends.

Many thanks to neighbors and friends who loved and supported Sylvia. Special thanks to the caregivers at Intermountain Medical Center for their tender care during her final days. Funeral services for her family will be held on Saturday, September 11th at 2:00 PM at the Wasatch Lawn Chapel, 3401 South Highland Drive. Internment will follow at the Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park. A link to a livestream of the funeral proceeding will be available for anyone else wishing to attend.