MATTOON - Sylvia S. Busbey, age 90, a life-long resident of Mattoon, IL, passed away on Wednesday, November 29, 2023, at Lutheran Hillside Village in Peoria, IL, where she had resided since April.

A funeral mass in her honor will be held at 10:00 AM, Tuesday, December 5, 2023, at Immaculate Conception Church Parish Center, 300 N. 20th Street, Mattoon, IL, 61938. A committal service will immediately follow at Calvary Cemetery in Mattoon, IL. The visitation will be held the same day from 9:00 AM until the time of service at the Immaculate Conception Church Parish Center.

Mitchell-Jerdan Funeral Home,1200 Wabash Avenue, Mattoon, IL, 61938, is in charge of services.

Sylvia was born on November 7, 1933, to the late Joseph E. and Ruth (Reed) Spitz. She married Richard J. Busbey on May 10, 1974, at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Mattoon, IL. Marrying Dick, a widower, brought into Sylvia's life a wonderful family with three stepdaughters and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren to follow. Dick and Sylvia enjoyed 24 years together before his death on July 19, 1998.

Surviving are two stepdaughters: Becky Crites and husband Jerry of Hernando, FL, and Janet Uphoff and husband Scott of Bloomington, IL. She is blessed with eight grandchildren: Dr. David Crites and wife Lora of Bozeman, MT; Jane Crites Wilson and husband Michael of Bozeman, MT; Joseph Crites and wife Diana of Chattanooga, TN; Bryan Suerdieck and wife Tracy of Santa Barbara, CA; Beth Pugh and husband Nathan of Mattoon, IL; Allyson Addams and husband Michael of Charleston, IL; Sara Fluty and husband Steve of Bloomington, IL; Susann Miessau and husband Jeffrey of Carlock, IL; and twelve great-grandchildren.

Sylvia was very close to her niece, Julie Rock and husband Jeff of Dunlap, IL, and spent many hours with their family: great-nephews, Benjamin Rock and wife Mallory of Chicago, IL; Adam Rock and wife Christina of Chicago, IL; great-niece, Rachel Houglum and husband Ryan of Minneapolis; great-great-nephews, Noah and Lucas Houglum of Minneapolis.

She is also survived by one son-in-law, Chris Suerdieck of Mattoon, IL; one sister-in-law, Avanelle Spitz of Peoria, IL. She was preceded in death by one stepdaughter, Carolyn Suerdieck of Mattoon, IL; and her brother, Judge Joseph R. Spitz.

Sylvia attended St. Joseph Elementary School in Mattoon, and graduated from Mattoon High School in the Class of 1951. After graduation, she began her career at Mattoon Federal Savings and Loan Association, retiring in 1985 as Vice President.

Sylvia was a devout Catholic and faithful member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. She served as past treasurer of the St. Vincent De Paul Society. She was active in the community serving for twenty years on the Board of Directors for Coles County Council on Aging, twelve of those years as secretary. She was a former member and past board member of Friends of the Library and Mattoon Golf and Country Club; and was a former member of the American Business Women's Association and Alpha Upsilon Sorority.

Sylvia made many dear friends through her numerous bridge and gin rummy groups, who helped make her recent 90th birthday special. She was also active in several social activities like the morning coffee, red hat and bingo clubs. She enjoyed reading, gardening, and traveling. She especially loved the many golf trips throughout the country that she shared with her husband Dick.

Sylvia was an avid Chicago Cubs fan having attended many ballgames over the years at Wrigley Field and Busch Stadium when the Cubs were playing the Cardinals. She loved following sports and was a Chicago Bears and Illini fan.

Sylvia was a respected business woman with a successful career. She was a caring, giving Christian woman. She was a dear friend to so many, who enjoyed her warm personality and sense of humor. But her family role as sister, aunt, wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother was what she treasured most.

Memorial donations in her honor may be made to the St. Vincent De Paul Society, 320 North 21st Street, Mattoon, IL, 61938 (For the Immaculate Conception Major Projects Fund); or to Lifespan Center - Coles County Council on Aging, 11021 E Co Rd 800 N, Charleston, IL, 61920.

Please visit www.mitchell-jerdan.com, or www.facebook.com/mitchelljerdanfuneralhome to light a virtual candle in her honor or share a memory with the family.

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

Published by Journal Gazette & Times-Courier on Dec. 2, 2023.