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SYLVIA M. MATKOWSKI

FUNERAL HOME

Slabinski Sucharski Funeral Home, Inc.

2614 Orthodox Street

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

SYLVIA MATKOWSKI Obituary

MATKOWSKI
SYLVIA M. (nee Drozdowski), on Aug. 7, 2010. Beloved wife of Charles J. 'Bud' and loving mother of Diane Matkowski and Jason Matkowski and his wife Jolie. Sylvia is the daughter of Frances Drozdowski and the late Stanley Drozdowski. Dear sister of John, Stanley, Salley Zappile, Diane Petrellis, Peggy Burns and Robert and their families. Relatives and friends are invited to her viewing Wednesday eve, 6 to 9 P.M., at THE SLABINSKI FUNERAL HOME, 2614 Orthodox St., Phila. Additional viewing will take place on Thursday, 9 A.M., Gloria Dei Old Swedes Church, Columbus Blvd. and Christian St. Services 10 AM. Int. Private.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Philadelphia Inquirer/Philadelphia Daily News on Aug. 10, 2010.

Memories and Condolences
for SYLVIA MATKOWSKI

Sponsored by Bettyann Matkowski Frederick.

39 Entries

Charlotte

November 20, 2012

I know I'm a few days late but Happy Birthday Aunt Sylvia

Stacey Burgess

August 8, 2011

I can't believe it has already been a year since we lost Sylvia! I have so missed just getting a call out of the blue...always loved never forgotten...we know you are in a better place now but sadly missed here...we love you...Stacey & Enoch 8-7-10

August 7, 2011

A year has gone by already. It feels longer than a year now that we lost you. Hope you are in a good place, one of peace, joy, love and light.

November 18, 2010

Happy birthday Sylvia. Wishing you peace and love. You're missed.

November 18, 2010

Happy Birthday Sylvia

September 19, 2010

Sylvia sent us this Easter '07 showing her Snow Bunny

September 5, 2010

Jane Geyer

August 21, 2010

I am a quilt guild friend and treasure having known Sylvia and hearing her share about her love for her family and Bud and their home. I remember her sharing about the building project and hearing the time she was glad to have the use of her new kitchen. It was with delight that she shared this lovely home with us. This was in May when we took lunch and a bright colored quilt we had made for her to use in chemo treatments when she returned to Pennsylvania. It was neat to see her gardens that Bud had so lovingly cared for. She even promised to share seeds of a yellow verbena in the fall. She e-mailed a picture of the plants growing in her window boxes in previous years.
I fondly remember when Pat, Ellen, and I spent 3 days with her in the fall of 2009 at a quilter's retreat. At that time she spent most of those sewing hours working on the completion of blocks for a Civil War style quilt for her brother. She was so happy to have finished the blocks. Also, over those days she talked about how close all of her family was. It was refreshing and inspiring to see her glow and hear her speak with love.
When quilt guild reconvenes in September I'll miss our table mate but cherish having known the warm sweet Spirit of Sylvia.
Jane Geyer, Steuben, Maine (formerly of Lancaster County PA and having enjoyed speaking with Sylvia about some locations famliar to both of us.)

August 18, 2010

Sylvia is dancing with the loons on Branch Lake and flying with the Eagles from Teacher's Island! What a deep and wonderful soul.

Don and Sarah Roach

August 15, 2010

Sylvia and Caden

Stacey Burgess

August 13, 2010

Dear Bud & Sylvia,
In great sadness we have lost a truly amazing woman and friend. We didn't know each other long but Sylvia always made us feel like we had known her a lifetime. I am so glad she came into our lives even if it was for a brief period of time. I am thankful everyday that you both were our friends and we will be forever grateful. Enoch and I thought the world of Sylvia and what a strong caring woman she was...she made everything ok and always had a positive and upbeat outlook on life. She was a beautiful person inside and out and so glad she was a part of our lives...thanks so much to you both for being our friends. We will miss her very much and love and prayers to the family..I am adding a picture of Sylvia with my grandson Caden when he was first born.We had just gone apple picking and wanted to show him off to her.. I am just so devasted beyond words that my friend is gone, but how lucky we all were to have known her at all....love from Stacey & Enoch Burgess

August 13, 2010

Sylvia smiled with her whole face and captivated everyone she met. I never noticed the dust, rocks or ruts on the camp road on early morning walks with her for the interesting life stories she told. Wven when she drove past the mailbox tripsters on her way to work she always took the time to stop, roll down the window and greet us good humoredly.

There never was anything "cookie cutter" about Sylvia. She was original in her hair style, conversations "she eschewed gossip", decorative and creative abilities. She loved her soulmate, Bud, her whole family, her friens, her home and gardens, work and quilting, ;even her lengthly commute to work was a pleasure

Short though her life, she embraced it to the fullest measure. Her passing leaves an empty space in me, but her spirit will live on where ever there is sunshine and laughter. Jane Ice. Branch Lake, Ellsworth, Maine

Madison Sylvia Helsen

August 13, 2010

Aunt Sylvia,
We love you to pieces, it's undescribable. You touched so many of our lives, and made a huge impact on all of us. I always try to tell myself 'Good things fall apart so better things can fall together'. Aunt Sylvia your the good part, but it's ok because the better part is your in heaven surounded in love. This was your Temporary home and you lived it to the fullest. We cherished every moment you were here. I still hug our pillow we made every night, and I think about how much fun we had in Maine. You will be greatly missed.
I Love You
Madison Sylvia Helsen

August 13, 2010

August 12, 2010

Corinthians 1:13

Love is kind; it does not envy, it does not boast.
It is not proud, it is not rude, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices in truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perserveres.
Love never fails.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love, but the greatest of all is love.

Darryl Sherwood

Mark 11:23-24

I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen; it will be done for him. 24Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Richard Burns

Christine Drozdowski

August 12, 2010

What an honor and privilege it was to have shared the last few months with Sylvia.

She is my aunt, my God Mother and most of all, my friend.

What an amazing opportunity I had. To live with her, to reconnect and to help care for her. I treasured every day we had together.

Let’s be real…

I LOVED having her back in Philly and I LOVED that she chose to wear a Phillies hat after she lost her hair. And yes, we actually bought matching hats!

We talked and laughed about so many things. And yes, we even joked about the cancer. A LOT! We tried to find the humor in everything.

The day I helped shave her head was especially funny. She was worried she was gonna look like she got attacked by a giant moth. We laughed so much! She was also concerned that she was gonna have a weird shaped head, but you know what?

Her head was completely round and that Phillies hat fit her perfect!

Simone & I joked that we shared joint custody of Sylvia, but at the end of May, I kidnapped her for good.

I lured her away with stories of Ice Cream and Cake! We sang that song every day. It became her theme song.
“Ice Cream and Cake, Ice Cream and Cake”!

We would take daily walks around my neighborhood and made lots and lots of trips to Target – Sorry Bud!

Oh, and let’s not forget the tons and tons of Rita’s Cherry water ice!!

How cool was Aunt Sylvia? Aunt Sylvia was so cool that she took me to my first rock concert for my 10th birthday.

1979 Kiss. Full make up at the Spectrum.

My sister and I were terrified. She picked us up in her rockin’ mustang and treated us like queens that night!

This year, my sister and I went back to see Kiss. I called Sylvia to reminisce about our 1979 adventure.

I learned something that night… I am definitely too old to go see Kiss!

Simone
Aunt Sylvia truly loved you and treasured her time spent at your home.

Don’t worry, no one will ever ask to borrow your car again!

You were simply amazing in all that you did for her. She used to joke that she just wanted to hug you all day!

Remember
Aunt Sylvia will always be following you around singing… “I LOVE YOU! I LOVE YOU!”

You did a great job and you should be proud!

Diane, Jason and Jolie,
Those 4 days we spent together caring for Sylvia around the clock was amazing. I don’t know what Bud, Darryl or I would have done without your help. It was remarkable how we all came together as a family.
Thank you!

Aunt Sylvia
You changed my life forever and I will always love you!

Darryl Sherwood

August 12, 2010

Hi, my name is Darryl Sherwood, Christine’s fiancé. I met Sylvia 13 years ago when Chris and I started dating. She reminded me so much of Chrissy that I was taken back, but quickly understood why they loved each other so much.

One of my fondest memories of Sylvia was New Years day at her home in Elverson. Chrissy and I had not yet seen the Lord of The Rings trilogy, so we were invited up there for a day of movies, great conversation and the traditional New Years Day pork dinner. I have a deep passion for cooking and remember fondly sitting at the island in her kitchen…and we all know how incredible that kitchen was. We had a great time talking; laughing and watching Sylvia prepare dinner. To this day, Chris and I make our new years meal exactly the same way. We always think of Sylvia and that special day.

Being of a Pennsylvania Dutch background, New Years’ dinner is a special time. It’s a time to let go of the previous year and look to the new. Pork is used because a pig is unable to turn its head around and look back, it can only look forward. I always remember Sylvia saying don’t keep things bottled up inside…don’t harbor negativity… Just move forward!

Back in March, Chrissy explained to me what was going with Sylvia’s health and that she’d be coming down here to stay with Simone and us. We hadn’t seen her in quite some time and were very excited to spend time with her and catch up on life. On March 16th this year, I picked up Sylvia at LaGuardia airport in Queens, NY. It was just the two of us and we talked non stop the whole trip home. She filled me in about her health, but we mostly talked about life, decision making, and being positive.

The last 5 months with Sylvia was absolutely amazing. I couldn’t wait to come home from work to sit and talk with her. I would walk in the door and say “Honey’s I’m Home”! Chrissy and Sylvia would greet me with their big beautiful smiles and Sylvia would ask, “What’s on the menu tonight”? I loved cooking for my girls! Two blue-eyed polish beauties connected by blood and their souls. I treasured our dinners together and will truly miss them.

Sylvia was so smart, so beautiful and so in tune with herself. She would tell me not to harbor negativity. Think positive. People say that every cloud has a silver lining. I thought this was used to just comfort people in hard times, but then I spent 5 months with Sylvia. She lived it, she truly believed it… She taught me to see and believe that as well.

That theme resonated so much in our conversations. It reminds me of a song by David Gray titled, “Silver Lining”. There is a verse in the song, Take this silver lining, keep it in your own two hands and scatter it like diamonds all across this land.
Sylvia did hold the silver lining in her own two hands and she scattered it through our homes and all through our hearts.

Bud Matkowski

August 12, 2010

The Story of We

Let me tell you a story about 2 people in love. Before I start the story, I have to say that I am without a doubt the luckiest man in the world to have been able to spend 24 years with Sylvia. To have loved her and known her is a true honor.

We had our first date when Sylvia was 15 and I was 17. We dated for approximately a month a half and went our separate ways. Little did I know what I was letting slip through my fingers. We both lived lives that were completely different. I believe that time prepared us both for when we would meet again. We didn’t see each other for 20 years. My sister in law told me Sylvia wasn’t seeing anybody and I decided to call her and ask her out for a drink. When I arrived at her house, I knocked on the door. When she answered it, the moment was like the scene from the wizard of oz when the good witch of the east came down in her bubble. I felt the goodness of Sylvia’s soul and at that moment knew that someday I wanted to marry her. I didn’t realize it at that time, but what I was feeling was Sylvia’s closeness to God. As I grew to know her, she told me of her relationship with God. She wasn’t only a beautiful woman on the outside, but it was her soul that I really fell in love with first. That first night we went out, had a drink and were up until 3am just talking. I remember on the drive home how I couldn’t wait to see her again.

We saw each other almost every day after work. After a few months, while sitting in our little booth at the restaurant where we’d meet, I noticed that Sylvia was rather upset. When I asked her what was wrong, tears came to her eyes. She looked across the table and said that she was scared because she knew she was falling in love with me. That moment is so burnt into my mind. She might have been afraid, but at that moment I was the happiest man in the world.

After a few months together, we thought it would be nice to take Diane and Jason to the Spectrum to see the band Yes. Diane, Jason and I got into the Volkswagen to pick up Sylvia. As we were driving down the road, Jason said, “it smells like Sylvia in here”! I reached in the glove compartment and pulled out a sock. It was covered with Sylvia’s perfume. Jason reached up and grabbed it, smelled it and said “it does smell like Sylvia”. The reason the sock was there? I had become so enamored with Sylvia that I would see her every day. I’d either meet her at her work or after work. I always wanted to be near her. She came to me one day and told me that she had to go to California for a convention and that she’d be gone for 4-5 days. This news nearly broke my heart. Since the day I went to see her for the first time, I had seen her nearly every day and now there would be a period that I wouldn’t be able to see her. Sylvia had an answer. The day before she left, we met for breakfast and she handed me the sock with perfume on it. She told me any time I missed her, I could get the sock and smell it. Needless to say, I would drive around in the car with the sock in my hand pressed to my nose thinking about her.

We continued to see each other, and after 3 or 4 years begging for her to marry me, she finally decided to follow her heart and agreed to accept my proposal. A week before we got married, we were sitting in my living room. Sylvia reached over and grabbed my hand. She held it open in front of me. She looked at it and told me that she was willing to put her life in my hands and that she knew I would always take care of her. This was without a doubt one of the most meaningful moments in my life. It made me realize how deeply in love we were. She put all her time and effort into making our wedding one of the most beautiful days ever. I know that day was without a doubt one of the happiest days of my life. For our honeymoon we went to Cancun, Mexico. It was an amazing, beautiful place and we created millions of memories.

We rebuilt our house in Elverson, PA and made it a place of love and honor. Sylvia had sent me off to be by myself. I went to Maine. While there, I fell in love with everything about it. The following year, we traveled there together. We both realized how much we loved Maine and began talking about buying a piece of property and building a home there. Eventually we did buy a property and started to formulate our dream home, a place in the wilderness. We both realized that moving to Maine would separate us from our families, but being together was all we really needed. We wanted to spend the rest of our lives together in a place surrounded by God’s nature and a place whose energy would be ours. In 2004, we started to build our dream home. We moved there in November and spent 3 years making the house exactly what we wanted it to be. We felt that all our dreams would come true and now we had our place in the woods. We were alone with each other, but God had other plans.

Exactly one year ago, Sylvia began having some bouts of pain. We weren’t really sure what the problem was, but after many visits to doctors and specialists, our worst fears became reality. She was diagnosed with Endometrial Cancer. In the middle of March, Sylvia decided to come to Philadelphia to begin her battle with this disease. She told me to stay home and finish the job I had started. It was not easy for me to stay in Maine. She spent her time with her 2 nieces Simone and Christine. In that period, we would speak 3 times a day on the phone. We never missed our morning coffee together. The 3 months for me was a period of many tears and anguish. I hated that she was alone, but we were both doing what needed to be done. Her treatment was stopped abruptly and the doctors told her that there was no hope in conquering the aggressive disease. I flew here the end of May with Lindsey, our cat, and did everything I possibly could to keep my honey comfortable, happy and free from pain. No matter what we did, the disease would not let us win. On August 7th, 1:38AM, my sweet, sweet Sylvia was taken by God to a place much better than this.

I KNOW NOW that she is watching over me. I can feel her near me. I KNOW that she will always be there.

Barb&Walt Jonsson

August 12, 2010

We send our deepest condolences to you, Bud and her entire family. It is sad that she only got to enjoy your beautiful home for such a short time, but we are sure she did indeed delight in the building project and her lovely gardens.

August 12, 2010

I used to walk mornings with Sylvia when she first came to Branch Lake. She was a Pennsylvania lady with a neat accent and a very enjoyable walking companion. We had various conversations about where we lived and our family backgrounds. She and Bud were very excited about living on Pickerel Cove Way with all the wild life. They took long winter walks, enjoying their surroundings.
She was a wonderful seamstress and belonged to a local quilting club.
Sylvia was also a great cook and shared many goodies with her neighbors.Her philosophy in life was to accept whatever came along and she did this graciously many times while I knew her. She made a lot of friends during her brief stay here. I will miss her and her gentle spirit will always be here with us.
Loretta

I shall miss Sylvia's perpetual smile and vibrant laughter. It always brightened my day.
Armour Brown, Ellsworth, Maine

August 11, 2010

the El Video family

August 11, 2010

We were so sorry to hear of your loss. The thoughts of many are with you & your family at this time of sorrow. May her strength of spirit and your memories hold you up & keep you strong.

August 11, 2010

Our deepest sympathies to Bud. We know Sylvia was the love and light of your life and will eternally be missed by all who knew her. Our prayers are with you. Love Don & Rosemary Robbins, Tustin, CA

Terry Holland

August 11, 2010

Bud, You and Sylvia's family and friends are in our thoughts and prayers and we will always remember her most fondly. We are happy that we have had the good fortune to have known Sylvia, even though it was for far too short a time. See you soon,

Jane Holland

August 11, 2010

Bud, You've lost a wonderful, deeply sensitive and talented partner in life. The people who knew her have lost a warm and giving friend. I will always remember my first visit to your oasis in the woods when I was bowled over not only by your gorgeous home, lovingly crafted by both your artistic talents, but more importantly by Sylvia's warm welcome. I felt I was forming a true friendship and I will always be sad that I never got to know her better. She was a unique individual and I will miss her. With deepest sympathy,

Charlotte Zappile

August 11, 2010

Aunt Sylvia,
Words cannot express how much you meant to me and all of us and how much of an impact you made in our lives. You will be greatly missed and I'm glad we got to spend time together these last few months. You legacy will live on.

I love you

Love,
Charlotte

Michele Helsen

August 10, 2010

Michele Helsen

August 10, 2010

Michele Helsen

August 10, 2010

Michele Helsen

August 10, 2010

Mark, Michele, Christopher, and Madison

August 10, 2010

Aunt Sylvia was a blessing from God, and now is a blessing in heaven. She has touched all our lives in so many ways, and will continue to touch our hearts for the rest of our lives. She was a caring & giving woman who always put others needs before her own. Her inspirational spirit gave strength to anyone who knew her. We will miss her dearly, relying on the wonderful memories of a beautiful woman we are proud to call Aunt Sylvia.

Angela Cimino

August 10, 2010

Sylvia was an awesome woman. Direct yet sensitive, classy and yet a tool belt diva. I have many fond memories which I will forever treasure.

Steve & Barbara Meers

August 10, 2010

August 10,2010

Words have little meaning to offer,
but know that your sadness is understood,
and that we wish you fond memories of the
times now past, and the courage and strength to endure the grief.....
There will be a sunny day again, sometime
in the future, when the thoughts of Sylvia will bring smiles to you rather than the tears that come today.....
May that day come as soon as it can.

Holly Shields

August 10, 2010

A beautiful lady-inside and out. It was an honor to have known Sylvia, and she will be missed dearly.

August 10, 2010

Dear Buddy and Family,

Sylvia was certainly one of a kind, she was always caring and giving of herself. May all the memories you have and knowing how much she was loved by all, bring you comfort. We will miss her. Our prayers are with you and our family.

Patricia and Bobby

Bud, Jason, Diane and Sylvia

Bettyann Matkowski Frederick

August 10, 2010

I will forever be grateful that Sylvia came in to the lives of my brother Bud, and his children Diane and Jason. Sylvia showed them how to find joy; how to live; and most importantly how to love. She will forever live in the hearts of those who knew and loved her, and her legacy will live forever. We were blessed to have her as a member of our family, and her loss is a devastating one that will be felt forever.

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