Sylvia Goelitz Stanley
Sylvia Goelitz Stanley, 87, of Polson, MT passed away on Saturday, November 28, 2009 at St. Joseph Retirement Community in Polson.
Born on May 20, 1922, in Rochester, NY, she was a daughter of the late Walter A. Goelitz and Hazel Graser Goelitz. Sylvia attended Bayside High School in New York and then continued her education at Antioch College from 1939-1941. She then moved on to Columbia University where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1944. Sylvia stayed in New York until 1946 when she moved west to Missoula, MT where she taught nursery school at the University of Montana. In July 1949, Sylvia married Philip Stanley.
Sylvia started Stanley Day Care Center in 1957, in her home on 6th Street, which operated until 1967 when she went to work for Missoula Head Start. Sylvia retired from the Head Start Program in 1985. Sylvia believed in young childhood education for all and dedicated her life to teaching.
With her retirement, Sylvia devoted herself to volunteer work at St. Patrick’s Hospital until she and Phil moved to Polson. Not one to just sit around, she picked up her volunteer work at St. Joseph Hospital in the cafeteria, worked with the craft group and also worked at Cherry Valley School in the reading program.
Sylvia was a life master in duplicate bridge. Next to her family, bridge, teaching, bowling and volunteering were her enjoyment in life.
Her father, mother, her sister Jackie, and husband Phil precede Sylvia in death.
Sylvia is survived by her sister Gloria McGann of Plains, MT; her children, Stephen Stanley of Polson and Carol Stockdale of Orting, WA; grandchildren, Shari Erickson of Orting, WA, Kaleb McCammant of Las Vegas, NV, and Nicole Stanley of Wasilla, AK; great-grandchildren, Kyle, Kaden, and Amy Lynn.
A memorial service for Sylvia is planned in the spring. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Breast Cancer Research or to St. Joseph Retirement Community in Polson. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family online by visiting www.groganfuneralhome.com. The staff at Grogan Funeral Home and Crematory, Polson considers it a privilege to care for Mrs. Stanley’s family.
What a fun and intelligent lady Sylvia was! I will miss seeing her every day at St. Joe’s. My sympathy to her family and friends on the loss of a very dear mom, grandma, sister and friend.
Sincerely,
Kate Hertz
We have all lost a very dear “cheerleader”. Sylvia had the most uncanny way of knowing how to motivate people and always expected the best from each of us. I will miss her wise, twinkling eyes, her deep chuckle and her tireless efforts to quietly make life better within her community.
Thanks for sharing her with all of us!
Amy Nelson Knutson
I am so very sorry for your loss. Please know that God will comfort and sustain you. Psalms 34:18 says that He is near to those broken at heart and saves those crushed in spirit. Please keep His promises close to your heart. I offer my deepest sympathies to your entire family.
Steve–I am so sorry to hear about your mom–I know how it feels, we just lost my mom last month–our prayers are with you—Dallas and Michael
Sylvia was a wonderful woman and friend to my mother, Esther. Sylvia invited Mom to play with her duplicate bridge club when Mom moved to Polson. At St. Joe’s they played bridge, Scrabble, and pinochle. Sylvia always had a twinkle in her eye and a smile on her face. She will be missed!
Hello,
Sylvia was my mom’s good friend for many years and at St. Joe’s. My mom was also a life master in bridge and after she passed away in February 2009, Sylvia told us that she was really going to miss playing cards and Scrabble with my mom because she was a worthy opponent!
I loved Sylvia’s spunk and sense of humor - sharp as a tack and always smiling and full of life. She was well loved and will be sorely missed. God blessed you with a wonderful mom-and the rest of us with a wonderful friend! My thoughts and prayers are with you all. ~ Mary (Warford) Howard, daughter of Esther Warford
Hi Stephen,
Don’t know if you remember me or not, but I was your second grade teacher at Roosevelt School. I have to admit you were the teachers pet. I am so sorry to learn of your mothers passing. I remember her inviting me to a turkey dinner at your house that year and what a great person she was. I am sure you have many good memories of your life with her.
Are you retired? How have the last 448 years treated you. Email me and we can get caught up. I am in Missoula.
Sincere Sympathy,
Lou Ann Sharkey
As a member of the Ladies of the Club it is a very sad occasion for all of us. We all learned a tremendous amount about bridge from Sylvia and I will miss her friendly smile and infectious laugh, esp. when you made the wrong bid or didn’t lead the right card. It was a pleasure being her friend.
Sorry for your loss.
Sylvia was a neat lady in the bridge world. We have many happy memories of being with her over the years.
Sylvia was a wonderful presence at St. Joes, serving as a volunteer in the cafeteria. Seeing her there brightened my work day.
Susan Mangels
A generous contribution for our ongoing work with the lost, abandoned and homeless animals of our area was made by Doris Putnam in loving memory of Dorothy Thompson.
Doris Putnam
909 West Central Avenue, Apt. 405
Missoula, MT 59801
Sincerely,
Pam Gibson
Mission Valley Animal Shelter
The above was placed here in error - Mrs. Putnam also sent us a contribution in memory of Ms. Stanley.
Pam Gibson