One of the world’s most special people entered the kingdom of heaven on December 9, 2022.
Our Mom, Grandmom, Sister, Aunt, and dear Friend, Sylvia’s passing was a complete shock to all of her family and friends as she was so active and very healthy until her last day. Her love and devotion to all of us will be so greatly missed.
Sylvia was born in Lexington, North Carolina to Mary Lucile Craver and Charlie Fritz, Jr. on September 12, 1936. She was the oldest of five daughters.
Throughout her life she treasured and held her family close and had a very strong relationship with her four sisters and their children. Her mother instilled this value in her. Sylvia graduated from Rockingham High School in 1954 and attended Pfeiffer College. When she was 21, she moved to Washington, D.C. with her best friend, Clara, and shortly thereafter, her sister, Priscilla. Sylvia worked for the Navy Department. It was here at the Main Navy building, formerly located on Constitution Avenue, where she met the love of her life and future husband, Commander Vincent de Paul Cavanaugh (“Paul”).
In Washington, Sylvia and Priscilla made lifelong friendships, the closest of whom were with Sheila and Lillian who became adopted sisters and aunts to her daughters. They attended theatre, concerts, sporting events, and traveled extensively. Sylvia and Paul were married in 1965 and moved to the “new town” of Reston, Virginia. They had three children in Reston—Mary, Paula and Cathryn Mae. In 1983, they moved to Longwood, Florida.
Paul and Sylvia had season tickets to the Redskins for over thirty years and took their girls to every home game from an early age. They frequently went back to D.C. for games even after moving to Florida.
Sylvia was an active and proud member of the Red Hat Society. She was one of the founding members of the Boa Belles, Sassy Floridians and Dixie Darlings. She was also a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Duval Chapter, Winter Park, Florida, and her sisters and daughters are members as well.
Sylvia was an active parishioner at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church and had daily interaction with her grandchildren, Elaina Michele Steadman, Keith Cavanaugh Knapp (“KC”) and Kate Vivian Knapp. She was very close with each of them. She was their “Sybee Mom.”
Sylvia is survived by her sisters, Priscilla Fritz, Mary Lou Hord and Becky Gilbert and predeceased by her sister, Jackie Fritz. She is also survived by her daughters, Mary Cavanaugh Knapp (Keith), Paula Cavanaugh Steadman (Justin) and Cathryn Cavanaugh Blackburn (Doug).
Sylvia loved to read and her favorite time of all was at the beach surrounded by her family.
Memorial gathering will be held January 5, 2023 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. At the DeGusipe Funeral Home, Maitland Chapel. 9001 N. Orlando Avenue, Maitland, FL 32751.
Funeral Mass will be held January 6, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. At the St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church. 861 Maitland Avenue, Altamonte Springs, FL 32701.