Sylvia Love McCormack McCallister

Stillwater - Our mother's spunk and sparkle began on August 22, 1929, in Berkeley, CA and became transcendent on May 15, 2024, at Our Lady of Peace Hospice in St. Paul, MN. Mom balanced studies, tennis, and violin at Anna Head School. She earned her BA from Pomona College and her master's degree from Eastman School of Music. Our parents met in Rochester, NY and moved to Ames, IA where Dad was a pediatrician.

Mom played violin in the St. Croix Valley, Iowa State University and Des Moines Symphony Orchestras and was president of the Ames International Orchestra Festival Association. She volunteered in PEO, the arts, schools, libraries, and hospitals in Ames and Stillwater, MN. Her vivacious spirit was contagious and inspired people to want to be "just like Sylvia." Mom helped people feel immediately and continually valued. Her greatest gift was to be a catalyst for friendships that have rippled throughout the world.

Years after Dad died, Mom's spunk caught the attention of John McCallister whom she married when she was 81 and he was 88. Sylvia is survived by her children, Sara McCormack Hoffman (Jim) of Red Wing, MN, Polly McCormack (Keith Engel) of Hopkins, MN, Don McCormack (Alison) of Boulder, CO, and Marilyn Johnson (Chris) of Stillwater, MN, 12 grandchildren and one great grandchild. She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Helen Love, son Billy, sister Polly Dunning, brother Bill Love, and husbands Bill McCormack and John McCallister.

Her celebration of life will be July 13th at Trinity Lutheran Church, Stillwater, MN, visitation at 10:00, service at 11:00. Lunch to follow.

Everyone deserves to be loved the way Sylvia loved us. Please consider donating to Our Lady of Peace Hospice, Lakeview Health Foundation, or P.E.O. Sisterhood Chapter FN, c/o Karen Anderson, 917 Lyndhurst Bay Drive, Cloquet, MN 55720, or a charity of your choice. Be someone's champion and the sparkle in their lives.