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BORN
1922
DIED
2013
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Sylvia Prior Obituary
March 14, 1922 - August. 9, 2013
Sylvia was born in Los Angeles, California on March 14, 1922 to Sylvester Louis Prior and Mary Louise Landon Prior. She passed away peacefully on August 9, 2013 in Ventura, California. Sylvia taught accordion and piano in Los Angeles and later in Oxnard for nearly 60 years, carrying on the business her father started in 1917. She loved teaching music and took great pride in knowing that she had touched the lives of countless students during her career. The most important thing in Sylvia's life, however, was her family, especially her two daughters. Sylvia was a devoted mother who taught by example the importance of kindness, generosity and compassion. She was one of a kind and will be greatly missed by her family and friends.
Sylvia is survived by her daughters Adrian Jo Guidotti (David Ross) and Sylvana Louise Guidotti, M.D. (Kevin Wells), as well as her sister Patricia Kessen (Willard) and her nephew Jeffrey Kessen. She is also survived by many devoted friends and her faithful dogs Gina and Scout. Sylvia was preceded in death by her big sister Dorothymae Nelsen, husbands Tito Guidotti and Richard Westhouse, and her niece and goddaughter Dorothy Lee Pabst.
The family would like to thank the physicians and staff who cared for Sylvia at the Ventura County Medical Center and Victoria Care Center, especially Doctors James Helmer, Joseph Esherick and Jacqueline D'Orazio. The family is also grateful to Westwood Home Care and Sylvia's primary caregiver Mida who enabled her to remain in her home with her pets for her final years.
Services will be held on Saturday, August 17, at 11 a.m. at Santa Clara Mortuary and Cemetery, 2370 North H Street, Oxnard, CA. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Sylvia's memory to the Sisters of Notre Dame, California Province, 1776 Hendrix Avenue, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360, Attn: Advancement Office or to your favorite charity.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Sylvia Prior
4 Entries
Dr. Frank Ricchio-Strnad
August 25, 2013
RIP Sylvia. My heartfelt thanks to you for so enthusiastically helping me to re-establish my family's accordion traditions here in the United States, as your father did with my grandfather, Frank C.R. Ricchio, when he first arrived here in the early 1930s. As musical tradesman, performer and now scholar, I will always be grateful to you.
August 20, 2013
Dear Adrian Jo and Sylvana, I read of your mothers' passing in the Star. My mother knew your mother and grandfather very well. My mother, Alma Dube, was a professional acordionist and traveled at one time with a stage review "The Accordion Idea". Memories are coming back to tme as I think of your family. Your family were great friends with Anna, Rosalie (Bernie Quinn) and Frances Ann
(Irv LeComte) Greiler. I don't know if your mom ever mentioned them. I lost track of them years ago. I, too played accordioned as a youngster and enteratined with my mom and dad through the years. After marrying, my accordion playing has been limited to Christmas carols at our family's celebrations! How fortunate you were to have your mom for as many years as you did. We live in Simi Valley. My condolences to you and your family.
Pat (Dube) Haubrich
Sylvia with AFNA Little Cash Winners, 1978
Gigi Rabe
August 15, 2013
RIP Sylvia....thanks for all you've done to promote the accordion. Thanks to you and AFNA I have my musical career and hope to continue the work you have done - showing that the accordion is a legitimate instrument. You hold a special place in my musical heart! xo
Sylvia with AFNA Little Cash winners, 1978
August 15, 2013
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