Sylvia A Bognar

Sylvia A. Bognar passed away peacefully at the age of 88, on the morning of Sunday, April 27th, 2025 in Wesley Chapel, FL, after a brief illness.

Sylvia was born on September 2, 1936, and raised in South Bend, to the late Mathew A. and Julia (Kaplon) Nowak. She grew up in a quintessential Polish neighborhood on the West side where she attended St. Adalberts Catholic School and played volleyball. She graduated from Washington High School in 1953 at the age of 16. She would meet the love of her life, Albert (Ab) Bognar, through a double date with her friend (and eventual sister-in-law) Marge Plencner. They were wed in 1955 and remained together for nearly 70 years until his death in February 2024.

Sylvia joined the workforce at a very young age having graduated high school early. She spent most of her career at Bendix in South Bend, working primarily in payroll and accounting. She enjoyed the comradery of her coworkers which often culminated in social events where she was known to perform. Perhaps her most memorable and fun performance was joining her friends in a can-can chorus line. She was always fashionable and could frequently be sighted in her signature themes of turquoise and butterflies, although there was that period in the 70’s when she could not be pried out of her culottes. Her other signature, of course, was her hair; blonde and impeccably kept due to her faithful Saturday morning visits to the hairdresser.

Ab and Syl lived in Edison Park for 45 years, eventually moving to Tampa, Florida in 2000. They were loyal Notre Dame football fans, attending most homes games for over 30 years. She was a coffee connoisseur and a fabulous cook with particular mastery over Polish and Hungarian cuisines. There is not a U-pick fruit or vegetable within 50 miles of South Bend that she did not can, juice, jam, or freeze. She loved writing notes, cards, and sending little gifts for every birthday and special occasion. Most of all, she loved spending time with her children; 9 grandchildren: Jason, Avery, Amy, Merritt, Joseph, Michael, Katie, Kelsey, and Levi; and 5 great-grandchildren: Michael, Tom, Jasper, Joshua, and Jacob.

A Mass Christian Burial and reception are planned for June 20, 2025 at the All Souls Chapel located at Cedar Grove Cemetery, on Notre Dame's Campus, beginning at 2.30 p.m. Sylvia will then be placed next to her  husband also at Cedar Grove Cemetery.