DOVER - Sylvia Anita Crews passed away on July 6, 2018 surrounded by her loving family. She was born in New York City, N.Y. on Nov. 7, 1939, to Isaac "Gilbert" Irvis and Gladys Griffin Irvis. She graduated from Central Commercial High School in 1957. Sylvia worked at Metropolitan Life Insurance Company before marrying Donald A. Crews on Nov. 2, 1958. Upon his commissioning in the Air Force the family moved to Texas, California, Guam; settling in Dover in 1968. The family joined Holy Cross Church where she volunteered with the Ladies Sodality Christmas Bazaars and church cleaning.
Sylvia enjoyed traveling and cruises; visiting Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Europe, Asia, the Caribbean. She enjoyed the Chinese tile game of Mahjong and collected teapots, amassing over 100 of various designs and styles. Sylvia was also a Blue Bird (Camp Fire Girls) leader. Sylvia joined Officers' Wives Clubs at Travis Air Force Base, Calif., Andersen AFB, Guam and Dover AFB; volunteering with the clubs' charitable causes. She was appointed to Delaware's Foster Review Board, serving for years to ensure the well-being of children in foster care. She volunteered as an American Cancer Society Reach-to-Recovery volunteer.
Sylvia obtained a B.S in Education, a Master's in Education, taught 4th and 5th grades in Millington, Md. and Galena, Md.; retiring after 18 years as an educator but continued teaching as a substitute at Holy Cross School.
Sylvia is survived by her husband of 59 ½ years, Donald; daughters, Dawn Crews-Seams (Wallace), Leslie Cote (Chris) and Julie; grandchildren, Alexandra (Mark), Spencer, Christopher, Lindsay; and great-granddaughters, Emma and Hanna. She is survived by her sister, Gladys of Los Angeles, Calif., and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by siblings, Teresa, Milton, Gilbert, and Ruth.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, or St. Jude's Research Hospital for Children.
Visitation with the family will be from 9 to 11 a.m. at Holy Cross Church, Dover, on Thursday, July 12, 2018 followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. Interment will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Dover. Arrangements by Michael J. Ambruso Funeral Director, Inc., Dover. Condolences maybe made via www.ambruso.com