IN LOVING MEMORY OF
Sylvia
Gonia
February 1, 1948 – November 17, 2023
Obituary
Sylvia "Syl" or "Muchka" B. Gonia, age 75, passed away on November 17, 2023, in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. She was born to parents,
Petras and Anastazija (Machevicius) Stankevicius
, on February 1, 1948. She was born in a displaced persons camp in Germany and was proud of her Lithuanian heritage.
Sylvia immigrated to the United States with her parents in 1949, and they resided in Chicago, Illinois. She then met her husband, Laur, at the University of Illinois- Urbana in 1966. She received her Bachelor's Degree of Political Science, with a minor in Social Work in 1970. Sylvia was awarded a Fellowship to the Jane Adams Graduate School of Social Work, in turn receiving her Master's Degree in 1971.She went on to support families in hospitals, county children and family services, those in various nursing homes through the years. She became a Professor of Social Work in both Mississippi and Arkansas.
She also shared businesses with Laur in Arrow Rock, Missouri, and Green Lake, Wisconsin. She traveled extensively throughout the United States, Europe, and South America, as well as snow-birding and full-time RV travel.
Sprinkled through her professional life, Laur and Sylvia married in 1971. They had two children, Sean (1980), and Tara (1982). Sylvia also doted over her two grandchildren, Odin (2016), and Atlas (2019).
Upon her retirement, Sylvia worked seasonally for the City of Fond du Lac, alongside Laur, planting and maintaining the local parks.
She is survived by her husband, Laurence Gonia; daughter, Tara Gonia; grandchildren, Odin and Atlas Belmore.
Laur and Sylvia moved into the Evergreen Retirement Community in 2017, until her passing. She heroically battled Parkinson's for 10 years.
Per Sylvia's wishes, no service will be held, in lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Sean Paul Gonia Aviation Scholarship in memory of Sylvia. Donations may be made to FVTC Foundation, Inc., Fox Valley Technical College, PO Box 2277, Appleton, WI 54912-9948. Please specify the donation is made to Sean's Scholarship fund.
Sylvia immigrated to the United States with her parents in 1949, and they resided in Chicago, Illinois. She then met her husband, Laur, at the University of Illinois- Urbana in 1966. She received her Bachelor's Degree of Political Science, with a minor in Social Work in 1970. Sylvia was awarded a Fellowship to the Jane Adams Graduate School of Social Work, in turn receiving her Master's Degree in 1971.She went on to support families in hospitals, county children and family services, those in various nursing homes through the years. She became a Professor of Social Work in both Mississippi and Arkansas.
She also shared businesses with Laur in Arrow Rock, Missouri, and Green Lake, Wisconsin. She traveled extensively throughout the United States, Europe, and South America, as well as snow-birding and full-time RV travel.
Sprinkled through her professional life, Laur and Sylvia married in 1971. They had two children, Sean (1980), and Tara (1982). Sylvia also doted over her two grandchildren, Odin (2016), and Atlas (2019).
Upon her retirement, Sylvia worked seasonally for the City of Fond du Lac, alongside Laur, planting and maintaining the local parks.
She is survived by her husband, Laurence Gonia; daughter, Tara Gonia; grandchildren, Odin and Atlas Belmore.
Laur and Sylvia moved into the Evergreen Retirement Community in 2017, until her passing. She heroically battled Parkinson's for 10 years.
Per Sylvia's wishes, no service will be held, in lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Sean Paul Gonia Aviation Scholarship in memory of Sylvia. Donations may be made to FVTC Foundation, Inc., Fox Valley Technical College, PO Box 2277, Appleton, WI 54912-9948. Please specify the donation is made to Sean's Scholarship fund.
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