Sylvia A. Lesner's Obituary
Sylvia Agnes Lesner passed away on September 21,2024 at Kingston 0f Vermillion, Ohio . She was born in Lorain on February 28,1927 and was one of the feistiest 97-year-olds around.
Born to James and Mary Andorka, she grew up on Vine Avenue in South Lorain. As a member of the family who owned Andorka Lanes, she lived an extraordinary childhood. Andorka Lanes were a central meeting spot for Hungarians in Lorain. Not only was there bowling but meeting spaces for local groups, rooms for all sorts of sporting events and entertainment, and food and libation. Sylvia participated in all aspects. She was a crummy bowler, but she was a great pinsetter. She said that she sang a wonderful rendition of “Heaven, I’m in Heaven” on the stage. We shouldn’t admit it, but as a child she enjoyed an occasional salami sandwich and a “little” glass of beer at the bar. She also, as a child painted her grandfather’s new black Cadillac a beautiful rainbow hue and later admitted to killing a chicken during a joy ride in another car
After graduating from Lorain High School in 1945, she went to work for Pennsylvania Central Airlines in New York City as a teletype operator. She returned to Lorain to work at the National Tube in the billing department. While traveling to work one day on a bus she saw a tall and handsome guy standing on the corner. She told her friend Bruna that “I’m going to marry him”. Thanks to some help from their mutual friends, Donald Lesner and Sylvia got together at Crystal Beach Ballroom and were subsequently married in 1949.
Don and Sylvia had four children. When the youngest was two years old Don died of a sudden heart attack. Sylvia was left to raise and care for the family on her own. She went back to work as a day manager at Andorka Lanes and then as a credit manager at Harmon’s Furniture and Appliances. She was very successful in raising a rambunctious group of kids who love her dearly.
Sylvia enjoyed watching parades and the Browns, eating, bologna sandwiches and ice cream at the lake, watching tv from her lazy boy recliner, cuddling with her black cat Muchka, and eating breaded chicken, potato salad and creamed cucumbers.
Sylvia was a member of St. Ladislaus Catholic Church in Lorain until it's closing and then became a member of Nativity BVM Catholic Church, in Lorain.
She lived independently until age 95 when he suffered a fall after which she entered Kingston of Vermilion. The family acknowledges the professionalism, kindness, dedication and love shown by the Kingston staff especially Denise, Val, Rosa, Michelle, Barb, Mary and Ashely. The friendship and love offered by patients Naomi (aka Mo), Dora, Nancy, and Diane, and our mother’s special friend and roommate Mary also contributed much to her quality of life.
Sylvia was preceded in death by her parents, James and Mary (Szep), her husband Donald, and brother Jim. She is survived by her children Sharon, Mark (Vicky), Dennis (Rhonda), and Scott (Betty). She leaves a legacy of three grandchildren including Ashley (Christian), Andrew and Megan and one great grandson, Brooks. She is also survived by her loving nephews Gary, Keith and Dale and special niece Holly.
The family will receive friends on Thursday, September 26, 2024 from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. in the Dovin and Reber Jones Funeral & Cremation Center, 1110 Cooper Foster Park Road, Amherst. Funeral services will immediately follow the visitation at 1:00 p.m. in the funeral center. Interment will follow at Calvary Cemtery. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.dovinreberjones.com
Rather than making a donation to a charity, please consider, Sylvia's love, caring, humor, and warmth, and please pay it forward in her honor.
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