Sylvia Florence Cahan

Sylvia Florence Cahan

April 22, 1945 ~ June 3, 2022

Sylvia Florence Cahan was born on April 22, 1945, in Reading, Berkshire, England; the third of seven children. Sylvia experienced many hardships in her early life, so when she was 20 years old, she immigrated to the United States on her own where she married and had her first daughter by the age of 22.

After remarrying in her late twenties, Sylvia became a mother to a son and had two more daughters within the space of three years. In her late forties she remarried for the last time and became a mother to six more children. Sylvia often said that the greatest blessing in her life was being a wife and mother. She dedicated her life to raising her children by creating a safe and supportive home environment, and eventually did the same for her grandchildren whom she loved dearly. Sylvia was blessed with abundant patience, an understanding heart and a large capacity to serve others, and throughout the years she opened her home to foster children, volunteered with children’s hospice and made all of her children’s friends welcome in her home.

Although her formal education in England ended when she was 14 years old, Sylvia was a life-long learner. She had a thirst for knowledge and a love of reading, particularly biographies. Although she disliked traditional sewing, she enjoyed quilting and cross-stitching and gifted many of her creations to friends and family. During the years she battled cancer she also became an avid dissectologist and enjoyed working on puzzles with her family.

Sylvia first met missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on the streets of Reading when she was 16 years old and was baptized with several other members of her family. She remained an active and engaged member of the church all her life and served diligently wherever she was called. Although she did not have any formal musical training, she served as a ward chorister for years and prepared musical programs for holiday programs that are still remembered today. Sylvia also served as a Ward and Stake Relief Society President on multiple occasions and in different locations. Her pleasing personality, friendliness and sincerity made it easy for people to come to her for advice, and her life experiences - although difficult, blessed her with wisdom and compassion that she shared freely with others. She was a woman of deep faith, and that faith sustained her in all things.

Sylvia was proud of her English heritage, but in 2003 she decided to become an American citizen. Sylvia was fiercely patriotic and enjoyed voting and participating in the democratic process. She was happy and proud to share the same nationality as her children. It was only later, through the magic of DNA, that Sylvia discovered her natural father’s identity along with a new branch of family to know and love. Ironically, her natural father was a U.S. citizen himself.

Sylvia passed away, at the age of 77, on June 3, 2022, in her home surrounded by family after a long, courageous battle with cancer. Her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren will forever remember her as a classy, fun and gentle woman. Her love of music and spirit of fun will stay with us always. 

Sylvia was preceded in death by her parents, Kathleen Agnes Johnstone and Silver Overton; her natural father, William Odlin McClary; her siblings, Christopher Robin Overton, Eric Charles Overton, Colin Michael Overton, and Pamela Jane Alison Pocock.

Sylvia is survived by her husband of thirty-one years, Jerry Ray Cahan; her brothers, Anthony (Bonita) Overton and Clive (Shelagh) Overton; and her children, Wendy (Terry) Gifford, Tim (Jessica) Ladd, Jennifer (Jeremy) Parkin, Sandra (Shawn) Grogan, Christopher (Kasey) Cahan, Gina (Cliff) Watson, Jill (Keith) Owens, Brandon (Marianne) Cahan, Carole (Frank) Conriquez, and Andrew Cahan.  Sylvia was blessed with 38 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren whom she loved dearly.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, June 18, 2022 at 11 a.m. at the LDS Plain City Stake Center, 4630 West 2125 North, Ogden. Friends may visit with family on Saturday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the church. Interment, Plain City Cemetery. Services entrusted to Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary.

Services will be live-streamed and available by scrolling to the bottom of Sylvia’s obituary page at: www.lindquistmortuary.com, where condolences may also be shared.

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