Sydelle Freidlin Marcus

Sydelle (Sydie) Fay Freidlin Marcus, 78, passed away at her home in Williamsburg, Virginia on February 27, 2021. She was born on April 18, 1942, to J. William (Bill) Freidlin and Estelle Aaronson Freidlin in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Sydie attended Central High School in Scranton, PA and Penn State University, and earned Masters degrees in Library Science from Indiana University and in Education from the University of Virginia. She was also a certified paralegal and had a certificate in interior design. She is survived by her daughter, Ashley Marcus, of Williamsburg, Virginia. She is also survived by her three sisters, Rozann (Ricky) Freidlin of Wayland, Massachusetts; Ellen Lee of Abingdon, Virginia; and Sandra (Sandy) McIntyre of Casa Grande, Arizona. She is survived as well by cousins Alan and Mary Joan Mandel of New Jersey, Marlene Mandel of Massachusetts, Michael Freidlin of Pennsylvania, Rene Hallen of Wisconsin, and Lisa Miller of New York; nephews Zach Lee of Virginia, and Nathan and Shay McIntyre of Arizona; and many other cousins and family who loved her. Sydie was a retired school librarian, and worked most recently until age 72 at Yorktown Elementary School. She also worked as a high school librarian at Mount Vernon High School in Fairfax County and was the head research librarian for Arlington County Public Schools in Virginia, and volunteered at each of daughter Ashley’s school libraries. Sydie was an avid reader, and particularly enjoyed history and also children’s literature. She loved to travel, and to learn about other countries and cultures. She lived in London, UK and Athens, Greece, visited her daughter in India and Thailand, and traveled with her to Egypt, Israel, Cambodia, Australia, and other countries. Sydie cherished her family and was known for staying in regular contact with everyone, even extended and older relatives, through greeting cards and regular phone calls. Sydie was a lover of animals and a supporter of the Humane Society. She cared for several dogs and cats over her lifetime, and recently adopted a kitten named Sunny at age 77. She was an appreciator and a collector of art and antiques, and loved going to the symphony, opera, ballet, and theatre. She was an active member of the Temple Sinai Sisterhood in Newport News, Virginia for many years, and organized their annual Temple Flea Market. Sydie was well known in the Villas at Five Forks residential community as an avid swimming pool-goer, and she enjoyed their regular social gatherings. A small graveside memorial service will be held on March 4, 2021 at Williamsburg Memorial Park, with family members and friends attending virtually via Zoom. The family respectfully requests in lieu of flowers, donations instead be made to her favorite charities, Camp Archbald in Pennsylvania (https://supportersofcamparchbald.org/donate/ ) or the Heritage Humane Society of Williamsburg, Virginia (https://heritagehumane.org/donate/).