Obituaries

Sylvia Sadie Adams, nee Hanna, 68, of Bloomfield Hills, died unexpectedly Tuesday, April 30, 2013. She is survived by her son, Wayne Adams, her four sisters Diane, Shirley, Joy, and Patricia; her six brothers Fred (Louise), Peter, Cameell Jr (Laurie), Donald, William, and Mark (Hildur); and 14 nieces and nephews. Her sister, Grace Arnold, and her parents, Cameell and Florence Hanna, predeceased her.

Sylvia was born on September 1, 1944 at Cottage Hospital in Grosse Pointe Farms. She was the eldest of 12 children. She attended St. Edward Elementary School. She practiced the piano and played the church organ during Mass. She graduated from Regina High School in 1962, where she was a member of the National Honor Society, the Sodality Club, Notre Dame High School's homecoming court, and Austin Prep High School's theater group. Sylvia received a BA from Western Michigan University and earned her MA in Education from the University of Michigan.

After college, Sylvia began her teaching career with Centerline Public Schools, and then transferred to Warren Consolidated Schools, where she had a long career as both a high school and a junior high teacher. Most notably, Sylvia (then Mrs. Sanderson) was the Business English teacher at Warren Mott High School, where she readied students for positions in the business world and often helped place them in first job opportunities. Sylvia (later Mrs. Adams) also taught at Butcher Junior High, Carleton Middle School, and Sterling Heights High School, where she retired in 2008. Her career as an educator extended almost 45 years. She enjoyed her career, students, and colleagues, and was known by many as the toughest but fairest. She displayed a broad smile, a friendly welcoming spirit, and graciously shared her teaching techniques.

For many years, Sylvia worked at charitable events, such as Arts, Beats, and Eats and the Birmingham Education Foundation's (Birmingham Public Schools) Garage Sale. She was also a supporter of the Rose Hill Foundation.

Sylvia was a very selfless person, always sacrificing and serving family and friends with her time, money, and expertise. She was very thoughtful and never missed an opportunity to send birthday and holiday cards with crisp cash taped inside and heartfelt notes written in her unmistakable calligraphic handwriting.

She enjoyed cooking and often expressed her love through feeding others and sharing recipes. For holiday parties, her role in the family was baking decadent pumpkin, pecan, and other pies. The Thanksgiving celebration officially started when Aunt Sylvia arrived!

Her favorite pastime was antiquing and collecting. At any garage sale in the area, there was a high probability of finding her negotiating a deal. Her love for family and friends was also expressed in the form of care packages filled with bargain item treasures. She touched us all with her insatiable appetite for "junk." Her generous spirit will continue to provide for, promote, and protect us. She was a charming, talented person with a sense of humor and a lion heart. We deeply love and revere her and will hold many fond memories of her in our hearts. She will be dearly missed!

The visitation is from 2:00-8:00 pm on Friday, May 3, 2013 at A.J. Desmond and Sons Funeral Home, 2600 Crooks Rd, Troy, MI (between Maple and Big Beaver Roads), with Prayer Service at 7 PM.

The funeral Mass will be the following day, Saturday, May 4, 2013, at 11:00 am, at St. Hugo of the Hills, 2215 Opdyke Road, Bloomfield Hills, with Father David Cybulski officiating. Visitation at church begins Saturday at 10:30 am.

Rite of Committal White Chapel Cemetery in Troy.

Memorial tributes may be made to:
Rose Hill Center, 5130 Rose Hill Blvd., Holly, MI 48442.