Sylvia Eva Olivero

Sylvia Eva Wolfersberger Olivero (AKA “Sugar” to many) ended her amazing life journey at the impressive age of 103 on February 26, 2021, following a brief illness. Her family and friends will miss her unconditional love, infectious laugh and ever present upbeat outlook on life. She was a beacon of positivity bringing life and energy into any room she walked into with her lovely smile and loving persona. She never knew anyone to be a stranger.

Born on February 24, 1918 in Chambers Hill near Hershey, PA on a farm that had no electricity or indoor plumbing, she defied all odds throughout her life. Born with a congenital deformity (which left her arm handicapped for life), she was pronounced dead upon delivery. However, her father (Harvey Wolfersberger) rejected this assessment and made a successful effort to resuscitate her. She shared many incredible stories as she overcame many challenges in life and saw innumerable changes over her lifetime. She recalled receiving her early education in a one room schoolhouse with one teacher for 5 grade levels. She had many escapades on the farm with her 3 brothers, Galen, Walter and Ralph and 2 sisters, Louisa and Goldie. At the age of 28, she was widowed with two young boys (Parker and Lewis) and pregnant with a third child (Virginia) when her husband (Grover Sheckart, a WWI veteran and foreman at the Hershey factory) passed away. Subsequently, she married Albert Rakocy and moved to Tampa, Florida in 1950. As a result of her second marriage, she was left penniless. She had a daughter, Alida, with her third husband, Gilbert Olivero, Sr. Over the years, she worked as a bookkeeper, briefly owned a diner with her second husband, and later provided food services for a private school. She finally retired after running two coffee shops at Watson and Company for 25 years. Though she suffered many heartbreaks over the years, she managed to always see the positive and wanted everyone in her life to be happy. Her greatest loves were her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren, but she also loved Hershey’s chocolate (and anything sweet), Lawrence Welk, Mother Angelica, farm auctions, Big Joe Polka, the beach, pretty jewelry and colorful clothes. She often voiced, in her later years, that she wanted everyone to celebrate her life and dance the “Chicken Dance” at her funeral. Though we probably won’t be dancing at your funeral, Sugar, we will always celebrate your incredible life. We love and miss you so much, but your name and story will live on forever in our hearts.

Sylvia is predeceased by her three husbands, a newborn (Grover Jr.), and her son (Parker Lee Rakocy). She is survived by her son (Lewis Charles Rakocy), daughters (Virginia Lee Southard and Alida Regina O’Donovan), and numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren.