Sylvia Mae Kendzior

1940 - 2025

Sylvia Mae Kendzior

March 8, 1940 - November 16, 2025

Sylvia Mae Phetteplace Kendzior (Busia) died Sunday, November 16, 2025, at her residence with her family by her side.

She was born March 8th, 1940, to Loyal and Mabel (Johnsen) Phetteplace in rural New Auburn. She was baptized and raised in the Lutheran church in Chetek.

She attended Twin Lakes one room school and graduated from Chetek High School in 1958.

She converted to Catholicism and married Gerald Kendzior in July of 1958 at St Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Weyerhaeuser. She was a member of St Bridgets Catholic Church in Seymour for 48 years and taught and supervised CCD classes for 15 years. She was later a member of Assumption Blessed Virgin Mary church in Strickland. She was a stay-at-home mother after marriage. When her youngest started school she began working for the Chippewa Falls School district as a cook and continued on to become a cook manager and Food Service Director. She also concurrently worked 21 years as part time Food Service Director for the Bloomer School District. She received her Assistant Dieticians Certificate and Associate's degree from Purdue. She was a member of the National and State Food Service Association and held local and state offices.

She taught food service classes at local technical schools for 5 years. She retired at age 65 after 32 years to care for her husband. She was an avid volunteer and served as girl scout and boy scout leader for her children. She was awarded the Silver Beaver award by the Boy Scouts of America. She also volunteered for St Francesca Food Pantry. She was a member of the Indianhead Gem and Mineral club. She loved to carve with both a chain saw and hand tools. She was a member of the National Woodcarvers Association and Western Wisconsin Wood Carvers Guild. Although not Polish, she embraced the heritage to instill it in her children. She mastered cooking pierogies, sauerkraut and golumpki. She loved cooking each fall with family. She enjoyed spending time at Bass Lake with her family watching the loons and the 4th of July fireworks.

She is survived by her children: daughter-in-law, Nancy Kendzior; Don (Wendy) Kendzior, Steve Kendzior, and Kathy (Jack) Cummings, brother-in-law, Robert Kendzior; sisters-in-law, Judy Hermes and Irene Phetteplace; grandchildren: Brian (Sara), Amanda, Sarah, Ashley (John), Mitchell (Rachel), Nicole (Jacob), Shyla (Mark), Damian, Jacob and great grandchildren: Bella, Frankie, Anne, Teddy and Elijah.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Gerald; son, Gerald Jr,; her parents, Loyal and Mae Phetteplace; in-laws, Ben and Josephine Kendzior; her brothers, Loyal Jr, Wesley, Harvey; sister, Nancy Rock; brothers-in-law, Tom Rock and Jim Kendzior, and sisters-in-law, Geri Kendzior and Janet Kendzior.

Funeral services will be held at Noon on Saturday, November 29, 2025, at Horan Funeral Home, Chippewa Falls with Rev. Dale Grubba of Endeavor, WI officiating. Interment will be in the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Cemetery in the town of Strickland at 2 P.M. Saturday following the service.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until the time of services at Noon Saturday, November 29 at the funeral home.

Family prefers donations to go towards the family farm, White Eagle Tree Farm, please make checks out to the family.

Thank you to St Croix Hospice, Mayo Hospice, Lily Hospice and St Joseph Hospice and their staff. Thank you also to the staff at The Manor Senior Living Apartments. A special thank you to her nurse of three years Carrie for seeing Mom for who she was and embracing her idiosyncrasies.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests you plant a tree in memory of

Sylvia.

Family and friends may express condolences online at www.horanfuneralhome.com