The family and friends of Sylvia Theresa (Augustyn) Kriesse grieve for her passing but celebrate her life.

Syl was born December 31, 1936 in Chicago, Illinois, to parents Michael Francis and Victoria Sophie (Nowak) Augustyn. In 1961, she married Richard Edward Kriesse (deceased) in Chicago. She is survived by her loving sister, Frances Mary (Augustyn) Eck. Her close family includes Fran’s children Michael (and Diane) Barnes, David (and Violeta) Barnes, Laura (and Joe) Fatla, and Patrick Barnes (deceased), and their children Jessica (and Nate) Warner, Violeta Sanchez, Nicolette Fatla (deceased), Joey (and Courtney) Fatla, Alan Barnes, Chloe Barnes, Mary Alice Barnes, and Lucas Barnes. Due to complications stemming from newly diagnosed heart weakness combined with the covid virus, she passed away on November 12, 2020 in Downers Grove, Illinois. Syl’s life included other highlights described below.

Syl graduated from Loyola College while working full time and going to night school, and then worked for the Railroad Retirement Board for 42 years and got 6 awards for excellence in her job including a letter from president Ford congratulating her on her efforts to reduce the cost of government and conserve resources. True to her generous nature, she retired when she did to give a younger person a chance to get ahead. She was also always generous with her family, buying school clothes for her sister’s children, and taking them and her mother on many vacations, including two trips to Europe. After her father Michael’s passing in 1977 and her husband Rich in 1979, she and her mother lived together in Downers Grove for many years, and she took care of Vicky when she needed care. They shared a love of their dogs, first Taffy and then Otis. Syl sang with the choir at Divine Savior Church for many years. After their mother passed away in 2009, as well as Fran’s husband John Eck in 2013, the two sisters lived together for seven years. They loved going shopping and to the casino together, and cherished every family gathering, holiday, and special event.

Syl’s extended family was also always close to her heart, including her aunts, uncles, and cousins. These include: Caroline (Augustyn) and Bob Adams (both deceased), cousins Barbara Adams (deceased), Maryann Adams; Joan (Drapala) and Edward Augustyn (both deceased), cousins Larry Augustyn, Carol Augustyn; Jeanette (Augustyn) and John Clark (both deceased), cousins John Clark (deceased), Anthony Clark (deceased); Helen (Augustyn) and Walter Nega (both deceased), cousins Reggie Nega (deceased), Patty Nega (deceased), Sandy Nega (deceased); Mary (Bell) and Leon Augustyn (both deceased), cousins Ellen Augustyn, Ron Augustyn; Eleanor (Augustyn) and William Prochot (both deceased), cousins Linda Prochot (deceased), James Prochot; Cecelia (Nowak) and Walter Murzyn (both deceased), cousins Maryann (Murzyn) and Ronald Neubert, Christine (Murzyn) and Walter Markowski, Walter (Wally) Murzyn, Richard (Ricky) Murzyn (deceased); Mary Nowak (deceased); Irene Nowak (deceased); Evelyn (Rylko) and Edwin Nowak (both deceased), cousins Barbara Nowak, Julie (Sabatino) and Thomas Nowak, Nancy Nowak.

A meaningful life, however, is described through more than a biography. The following are some special remembrances and thoughts from Syl’s family that will keep her memory alive and special to them:

When we were children, Syl and I would do a lot of things together such as playing pick-up-sticks, coloring, sticker books (that was her favorite) and playing 20 questions.  When we got a little older, she had a couple of boyfriends that had bicycles and they would take us for a ride to Eckhart Park.  She never left me behind.  As an adult, she was ambitious and went to work and night school and graduated with honors.  She was always close to our parents and was my mom’s shopping partner.  They had that date every Saturday.  She loved my children and took us on many all paid vacations.  When my husband died, we were together again and lived in her home and once again were doing many things together.  I love her and miss her dearly.  – Frances

Two words come to mind when I think of Syl – generosity and curiosity. When my brother, sister, and I were kids, Syl and her husband, my Uncle Rich, treated us like children of their own. They generously treated our family to vacations around the country, and later, after Rich passed, Syl also treated us to our first overseas trip – and got me hooked on travel for the rest of my life. And as we grew up, attended college, and started our own families, she remained an integral member of our extended family, and never tired of wanting to know everything about us. Humorously without a filter at times as she expressed her curiosity about us, we always knew it was out of a true sense of family and love for all of us.  – Michael

Syl was such a big presence in our families’ lives, and so generous – attending every birthday, coming to school performances, celebrating graduations and holidays, and taking us on vacations when we were kids. Thinking of Syl, so many simple, happy times come to mind – reading Peanuts and Garfield comics, playing games, playing songs on the piano. She was also an inspiration for me to start a career in the computer industry.  – David

Growing up with an aunt like Syl meant always having someone there alongside my parents to share the milestones in my life. She fully enjoyed being a large part of mine and my children’s lives and was always genuinely interested in hearing about what we were involved in. I always respected her hard work ethic as a young woman in the 1950’s and was impressed with her career. From California to Paris, she was extremely generous in planning several family vacations that we enjoyed together. I will treasure those memories forever. Christmas was always filled with song thanks to her love of music. We will be singing the 12 Days of Christmas in her honor from now on, missing her on “A Partridge in a Pear Tree.” We all have a personalized stocking thanks to her needlepoint skills that she passed on to me as well as my daughter. Aunt Syl was truly loved by all and will be deeply missed.  – Laura

We, and all your family and friends, will miss you, Syl.

In lieu of flowers or other memorials, Syl’s family requests donations be made in her name to any charitable cause.