Sylvia was born on June 20, 1938 to Ly Van Van and Le Thi Ngan. Sylvia grew up in Vietnam and was raised with five siblings. She had two sisters, Moung and Van; and three brothers, Su, Lanh, and Lam. Sylvia was usually involved in all sorts of activities with her siblings. She and her siblings experienced rivalries typical of a growing family, but they shared many life experiences over the years.
As a young girl, Sylvia had a number of interests. Like most children, she enjoyed playing and making up games. She was curious about the world around her and was often eager to explore it. Sylvia was an active child who took part in jumping rope. However, to Sylvia, the most fun to be had was simply playing and spending time with her friends.
A typical teenager, Sylvia had a fairly happy high school experience, making that critical transition from adolescence to adulthood. She graduated from Catholic High School in 1958. She enjoyed some classes more than others, having favorite subjects and teachers. Her favorite class in high school was French.
Always considered a “good” friend to those she knew, Sylvia enjoyed a broad group of acquaintances and several very close friends during her lifetime. Later in life, she became friends with Nguyen Thi Huong.
On December 14, 1996 Sylvia exchanged wedding vows with Pham Hung Thuy in Oakland, California. Empathic and loyal, Sylvia was committed to making her new family happy. She worked hard to be a good mother to her daughter and she did her best to fulfill Christy’s needs.
Fortunately, Sylvia enjoyed what she did for a living. Showing a strong work ethic, Sylvia worked diligently and did her best to succeed in her career. Her primary occupation was as a teacher in Vietnam and then as a secretary for the US Army for ten years. Sylvia always sought to be a team player, doing what was necessary in order to get the job done.
Sylvia enjoyed her leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. Her favorite pursuits were singing and playing bingo. She was content to enjoy her favorite pastimes alone but was also willing to share her interests with others.
Sylvia was a woman who took pride in upholding her beliefs. Politically, Sylvia was a democrat. Sylvia’s faith was also important to her. She was a member of the Catholic Church for more than forty five years.
Sylvia enjoyed traveling and time away on vacations. It was a chance for her to renew and relax, to visit new places and experience new things. Favorite vacations included France, Hawaii and Rome.
When Sylvia’s retirement finally arrived in 2000, she was well prepared. Her new life involved relocating to California, then Nevada. In retirement, she found new pleasure in joining the Senior Center. Even in retirement, Sylvia continued to stay in touch with her old friends while making plenty of new acquaintances. Sylvia was active in her new community and felt fulfilled with the opportunities retirement offered her.
Sylvia passed away on June 2, 2020 at St. Rose San Martin Hospital in Las Vegas after a battle with lung cancer. She is survived by her daughter, Christy; son-in-law, Freddie; and grandchildren, Ahsanti and Carvin. Services were held at Palm Southwest Mortuary. Sylvia was laid to rest in Palm Eastern Cemetery.
Simply stated, Sylvia was a good and kind person, an individual who will for all time be remembered by her family and friends as being a caring and giving person, someone who was a vital part of their lives. Sylvia leaves behind her a legacy of life-long friendships and many cherished memories.
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