Amy Sura Silverman

Amy Sura Babiarz Silverman

Amy Sura Babiarz Silverman passed away on Thursday, December 2, 2010, at her home in Palmyra, Virginia, after a long, courageous battle with inflammatory breast cancer. She was 42.

Amy is survived by her husband, Duane Silverman; three sons, Sean Everett of Richmond and Ryan Via and Kyle Via, both of Palmyra; two step-children, Aaron and her husband, Ian Kelly, of Afton, and Dylan Silverman of Palmyra; three grandchildren, Charles Braden Via, Ethan William Kelly, and Piper Quinn Kelly; her mother, Viki Hugo Matheny of Charlottesville; her sister, Emily Sara Gormes and niece, Victoria Ann Gormes of Charlottesville; her beloved uncle, Laurence Hugo and his wife, Carolann, and their family, of Schuyler; her beloved great-uncle, Vaughan Gary and his partner, Rick Smith, of Richmond; and countless other family and friends.

Preceding Amy in death was her father, David Babiarz; and grandparents, Carolyn Gary Hugo and Laurence Victor Hugo.

Amy was born on May 26, 1968, in Manhattan, New York, but was raised in Charlottesville, and graduated from Charlottesville High School in 1986. Before her untimely death, Amy dedicated her energy to creating the Amy B. Silverman Bridging the Gap Foundation, which is committed to helping others who are battling cancer with covering expenses after employer benefits have been exhausted but before disability benefits have started.

Amy wanted to thank her cousin, Becca Tamony Peters; her employer, Click2Mail; the staff of Hospice of the Piedmont, especially her caring nurse, Ayako Breitenbach; and her physician, Dr. Gordon Morris and his staff at Martha Jefferson Hospital for their special support.

A celebration of Amy's life will be held in a memorial service at Fork Union Baptist Church, 4745 James Madison Highway, Fork Union, Virginia, 3 p.m. Sunday, December 12, 2010. The family will receive friends in the fellowship hall from 2 p.m. until the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Hospice of the Piedmont, 675 Peter Jefferson Parkway, Suite 300, Charlottesville VA 22911.

Sheridan Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.


This obituary was originally published in the Daily Progress.