Ishpeming, MI - Sylvia Savu (or "Syl" as she was affectionately known by her family and friends) passed away on December 14, 2014 at the age of 92, while residing at the Mather Nursing Home in Ishpeming, MI.

Syl was born near Avonlea, Saskatchewan, Canada, on 2/9/22 to Ana and George Dragomir. Syl was one of seven children. Both her parents emigrated to Canada from Romania in about 1915, and became Canadian citizens. The family homesteaded a wheat farm in Saskatchewan. The farm was about 600 acres, and provided all sustenance for the Dragomir family. Syl had fond memories of growing up on the farm, with livestock, a large garden, lots of wheat fields, and brutally cold and snowy winters. Syl and her brothers and sisters had to walk 3 miles each way to school, except for the winter months. During the winters "Papa" would take the kids to school on a horse drawn buggy or sleigh. At the age of 9, when dust and dirt windstorms blanketed the land and made farming impossible, Syl and her family had to leave the farm. Syl recalled that the dust storms were so bad that the dust piled up as high as the top of the fenceposts, and the family had to eat under a large sheet draped over the dining room table to keep the dust out of the food. The family moved first to Hamilton, Ontario, and finally settled in Windsor, Ontario. Her dad went to work for Chrysler's, and her brothers also went to work in the Windsor auto plants. Syl grew up during the Great Depression and World War II. During the Great Depression, the family had to live on $12.00/month, and burned coal in a stove to heat the house.

Syl attended Gordon McGregor High School and completed 2 years of college. She was very proud of her education in Canada, and in fact at the age of 92 she could still recite some of the latin she learned (while trying to remember root words to solve cross word puzzles with her son David). Syl was athletically inclined, and played baseball and basketball while at Gordon McGregor High School. After graduation, Syl worked for an accounting office. In 1941, she married Paul Savu and she then moved to the United States, became a U.S. citizen, and gave birth to David Savu in 1942. Syl loved the big band sounds of the W.W. II era, and her favorites were Benny Goodman, Woody Herman, and of course, the Glen Miller Band.

In 1950 Syl started work at the B.F. Goodrich Tire and Rubber Company, where she worked for 27 ½ years. She was promoted to the position of Executive Secretary to the Detroit Zone Manager, and was responsible for, among other things, maintaining all personnel records and processing all health insurance claims for 10 company stores, with well over 100 employees. Syl took early retirement in 1977, when she had her first bout with cancer. Syl had 3 more return bouts with cancer, and she beat each and every one of them. In 1982, Syl moved to Ishpeming to be with her son David Savu and her grandson Justin Savu, and Justin's mom Maggi Haupt.

After moving to Ishpeming, Syl did volunteer work for the Salvation Army and fund raising for Easter Seals in Marquette. She brought to these volunteer duties the same organizational skills, attention to detail, and dedicated work ethic which served her well during her tenure at the B.F. Goodrich Company.

Syl loved horses, and enjoyed going to the track to watch trotters. She especially enjoyed going to the track with her sister Mary, to watch her nephew Jerry Schneider's trotters race. She also enjoyed travelling with sister Mary around Ontario to watch her nephew Jerry Schneider play football in the Canadian semi-pro league.

Syl was a real dog lover and a dog whisperer. She dog-sat for her friends any time they needed help, sometimes for up to 3 weeks. Her favorite pet was her little black poodle "Suzy," and her other favorite dogs were Willy, Teddie, and Dusty. She enjoyed going to the doggie birthday parties hosted by her friends Linda and Ray Lynch in Marquette.

Syl's favorite hobbies were cross word puzzles (which she attacked with a vengeance), reading mystery novels, and bowling in her younger years. In fact, she was such an avid bowler that she was often in 3 leagues simultaneously, won several trophies, and often bragged that she used a "mans" bowling ball (instead of a light-weight lady's ball) to scatter those bowling pins. First and foremost, Syl was a die-hard fan of the Detroit Tigers, and she stuck with them through thick and thin. She especially liked to watch Miguel Cabrera pound out those home-runs, and Justin Verlander fan opposition batters. Syl was also an ardent fan of the Detroit Lions, much preferring them over the Green Bay Packers (although she did like Bret Favre). She often chided her son David for his allegiance to the Green Bay Packers, frequently remarking that we live in Michigan, not Wisconsin! Syl loved a good joke, and had a terrific sense of humor, which helped sustain her through her several years of battling and eventually conquering cancer.

Syl is survived by her son David (Kathrine) Savu in Ishpeming, her grandson Justin Savu in Big Bay, her sister Mary Schneider (age 99) in Windsor, Ontario, and several nieces and nephews.

Syl was preceded in death by her parents, brother John Dragomir, brother George Dragomir, brother Constantine (Danny) Dragomir, sister Ana Eberle, and sister Vicki Ballantyne.

The family would like to express its sincere appreciation to Dr. Cary Bjork (and Lois), and to Doctors Kublin, Rooney, and Scholnik for their help managing Syl's care during the last many years. Thanks, also, to Dr. Catherine Kroll for her excellent care of Syl. The family would also like to extend a special and very heart-felt "thank you" to the entire staff at the Mather Nursing Home for their kind, gentle, compassionate, and loving care of Syl during this past year. Finally, many thanks to the Lake Superior Hospice, and Louise, who provided much needed comfort and support to the family.

Memorials may be directed to UPAWS (Upper Penisula Animal Welfare Shelter) at P.O. Box 968, Marquette, MI 49855 or at UPAWS.org

Syl's family will greet relatives and friends from 5 until 7pm on Thursday, December 18, 2014 at the Bjork & Zhulkie Funeral Home, with a time for sharing remembrances to begin at 6:00pm.

To listen to remembrances of Sylvia, click on this link .