Obituary of Ruth Owens Sylvester
Ruth held on until the Astros moved into first place but departed this life in the middle of a pennant race after almost 98 years. She was preceded in death by her husband, James Robert "Bob" Sylvester; her daughter, Patricia Holden; her brother, William Owens; and her parents, Joseph Owens and Maria Leal.
She is survived by her daughters, Mollie Schaffer (Randy), Jamie Hendershot (Randy), and Robin Moreno; her grandchildren, Dr. Randy III (Cristina) and Josh (Emily) Schaffer, Miriam Fiaschetti, Matthew (Tim Czerlinsky) and Tatyana Hendershot, Jonathan and Joseph Holden (Cole Winter), Marta Hansen (Eric), and Anna Fontenot (Andrew); and her great-grandchildren, Sabina, Jacob, and Wyatt Schaffer, Angelica, Armando, and Alexandria Fiaschetti, Benjamin Holden, and Noah Hansen; her sister, Patricia Owens Jordan; and her companion, caregiver, and best friend, Sylvia Doyle (who kept her alive the past ten years). Ruth and Sylvia truly were the Thelma and Louise of their generation (without the unhappy ending).
Ruth worked in nursing for 44 years. She started as a staff nurse at St. Joseph's Hospital in 1947, an era in which the nurses had to dodge the "handsy" advances of doctors without an HR department to support them. That toughened Ruth up a little. She survived a near-fatal automobile accident in 1951 in which her oldest daughter, Patricia, was paralyzed. Ruth spent almost two years in traction, while Patricia was in the Shriner's Hospital, and Mollie lived with relatives. That toughened Ruth up a lot.
Ruth returned to nursing in 1953. She went to work for St. Luke's Hospital and Texas Children's Hospital in 1964. She was the Director of the operating rooms during the Denton Cooley era, where she learned and kept the secrets of many surgeons. She retired as a Vice-President of Texas Children's in 1991.
Ruth's marriage to Bob also proved to be a full-time job. This tough World War II Marine-known as the "Old Soldier" and the "Old Sailor"-could be a lot to handle. By the time he passed away in 1998, Ruth was as tough as a boot and ready for anything.
Ruth loved her family, her friends, her profession, the Astros, and just being alive. At the end, she did not go gently into that good night; instead, she raged, raged against the dying of the light. We are grateful for her 97.8 years and will miss her forever.
The viewing and the Rosary will begin at 9:00 a.m. and the funeral mass at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, at St. Cyril of Alexandria Church, 10503 Westheimer Rd, Houston, Texas.
