Sylvia Louise PRIOR

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 Jeffery Kessen. She is also survived by many devoted friends and her faithful dogs Gina and Scout. Sylvia was predeceased 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 17th at 11:00 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.