Sylvia P. Hossfeld

On Monday, July 9, 2012 the world lost a beautiful soul, one that touched everyone she met. Her granddaughter called her "Nana the eternal light" because she radiated happiness and caring wherever she went. She died peacefully with her family gathered around her and is now together with those she loved that left before her.

Sylvia Hossfeld was a life long dancer. Born in 1916, she grew up in Fremantle, Western Australia. At three-years-old, her mother taught her simple acrobatic movements. When Sylvia's schooling ended at fourteen, her older sister Amy began the dance school where Sylvia learned ballroom dancing from Amy and soon she began teaching at the studio. She continued her learning by studying ballet each summer in Sydney and watched Fred Astaire movies to learn new tap dance routines. Eventually she owned a dance studio with her two sisters, Rhonnie and Amy. Sylvia did what she loved, took some big risks along the way, and encouraged others to do the same.

Known as the Kelly sisters, Amy, Sylvia and younger sister Rhonnie performed at local community events. Sylvia and Rhonnie did dance numbers, acrobatics, wirework, trapeze, and played the accordion, banjo, or ukulele while Amy played the piano to accompany them. On weekends, the family would travel out to the mining areas to teach the children dancing as community service. The mining areas were very poor, and Sylvia remembered the children loved dancing and thought it was wonderful. Today the Kelly sisters are honored in the Fremantle Music Hall in Western Australia.

When WWII broke out, the Kelly Sisters began performing USO shows for troops stationed in the South Pacific. Their father would set up an impromptu platform stage supported by beer barrels that would bend and bounce with every move. At one of these performances Sylvia met John Hossfeld, "Jack", a handsome young captain in the United States Army. After a two-year engagement and a wartime separation that lasted nearly as long, Sylvia and her mother traveled to Sydney where they met up with Jack. Sylvia and Jack were married in St. Andrew's Cathedral where she was given away by a total stranger as it was wartime and her father was not allowed to leave his wartime job. She then left her family and traveled to the other side of the globe to begin her new live in the United States.

Jack and Sylvia were married for 54 years and resided in Peabody, Massachusetts where they raised four children, Georgina, Roderick, Paul, and Peter. They were also blessed with 8 grand children, and 5 great-grandchildren (with 2 more on the way).

Sylvia was also a lifelong learner. As a wife and mother, she became a cosmetologist with Beauty Counselor Cosmetics, and a sales representative for Nobility Prestige and Bestline Products. Sylvia was also an avid crafter, who taught herself knitting, cake decorating, crocheting, chair caning, sewing, glass beading, lampshade making and needle point. In addition, she loved to paint whenever she became inspired to do so. At the age of 91 she decided she needed a new hobby and taught herself Swedish weaving where she not only learned the art, but also designed her own patterns. Finally, she was an avid cribbage player and challenged anyone to a "quick game" right up until the last week of her life.

Sylvia remained very active in community affairs and organizations throughout her life. She was a Cub Scout leader for her sons for many years. She sang in Sweet Adelines, and the church choir of the Marblehead Clifton Lutheran Church where she was a member for 50 years. In addition, she was a travel companion for her daughter's appearances as Miss Massachusetts 1969.

Sylvia loved her family and surrounded herself with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren whenever she could. She inspired and encouraged them to follow their hearts to do what they love to do. Her joy was contagious and she instilled her love of life in everyone she met.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Sylvia P. Hossfeld, please visit our floral store.