Sylvester, Rose Marie (Cronin)

Rose Marie (Cronin) Sylvester, 80, of Cedar Rapids, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2013, peacefully at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy, Hiawatha, following a short battle with cancer. Services: 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, at St. Ludmila Catholic Church, Cedar Rapids. The family will greet friends from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, with a vigil service at 4 p.m., at the church. Burial: St. John's Cemetery, Cedar Rapids.

Rose is survived by her husband, Lloyd; her eight daughters, Cathy (Randy) Faulkner, Mary (Sterling) Smith, Laura (Dave) Koering, Joan Sylvester, Colleen (Mark) Kurtz, of DeWitt, Iowa, Julie (Jay) DeLancey of Mount Vernon, Janice (Mark) Brady and Karen (Isaac) Malone; and one son, Dennis Sylvester. Rose is also survived by 16 grandchildren, Charlie (Michelle) Faulkner, Melissa (Jayson) Kramer, Amy and Billy Faulkner, Matthew and Adam Smith, Ashley, Jennifer and Benjamin Koering, Jacob and Jordan Henderson, Jaylee, Jace, and Josie DeLancey, Nicklaus and Kayla Brady; five great-grandchildren, Sophia Faulkner, Kamryn, Madalyn and Dylan Kramer and Kayleigh Faulkner; a sister, Marcella Shovlain of Davenport; a brother, Jack Cronin of Callendar, Iowa; sister-in-law, Peg Cronin of Fort Dodge; brothers- in-law, Dean Sylvester and Cleo Sylvester of Hedrick; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Raymond and Marie; brothers, Jim and Joe Cronin; brothers-in-law, Jim Shovlain and Clair Sylvester; and sister-in-law, Jean Sylvester.

Rose was born April 8, 1932, in Boone, Iowa, to Raymond James and Mary Agnes (Marie) Cronin. Rose attended Corpus Christi Academy in Fort Dodge, Iowa. In 1954, she graduated with her degree in nursing from St. Joseph School of Nursing in Ottumwa. On Nov. 26, 1954, Rose was united in marriage to Lloyd L. Sylvester. They were married 58 years and together they raised nine children. Rose was a RN and worked at Mercy Hospital in Cedar Rapids in the newborn nursery. After the birth of her last child, Rose decided to be a stay-at-home mother.

Rose loved spending time with her family and friends. She was known for her Saturday night homemade pizza where all of her children and their friends were always welcome. Rose loved to read, knit, and bake. She also enjoyed keeping her mind sharp by working on crossword puzzles, playing BINGO and watching Jeopardy. She especially loved attending her children's and grandchildren's events.

Rose was a strong person with a great personality. Rose was a member of St. Ludmila Catholic Church and St. Monica's Circle. She helped at the Kolach Festival and with Bingo for many years.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the family in Rose's memory.

Please sign the online guest book for Rose at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.

Published Feb. 7, 2013 in The Gazette