Obituary for Sylvia Marie Hammer (Holtz)
Sylvia Marie Hammer (Holtz) Sylvia was born May 16, 1942, in Seattle, Washington, to Walter Fred and Ruth Lillian (Allen) Horning. The family moved around a lot while she was growing up, but they ended up back in Seattle where Sylvia graduated high school. A caregiver at heart, Sylvia continued her education by earning her CNA license and embarked on a lifetime of caring for others. Even after she started a family, Sylvia continued to work as a caregiver – partly out of necessity buy mostly because caring for others was so much a part of who she was. She married Gregory Hammer and together they raised five children until his untimely death in November of 1981. At the young age of just 39, Sylvia became a single parent to five children. Thankfully her work was also her passion, because now she was the sole provider. Sylvia cared for her patients at work and then came home and cared for her family, making sure the kids had all that they needed. She was very resourceful and could always make something out of nothing. Sylvia could create hearty meals from what she had on hand, sew bedsheets into fine curtains, and even sew clothing when she needed to. She also loved plants,gardening,listening to country music, watching wrastlin’ and her dog Rocco. Even though she was the toughest lady her family ever knew, Sylvia was a complete softie when it came to her family, especially to her grandchildren. She was also fun-loving with a great sense of humor. Sylvia knew hard work and how to stay strong when necessary, without losing the kindness that made her so lovable. Through her decades of caring for elderly patients, she touched so many lives through her incredible kindness. She truly loved the residents like they were her family, and she would go home and tell her family all about them. Sylvia was known to spoil her residents and buy things for them out of her own pocket whether it was a small thoughtful gift or a necessary supply. She loved her job so much that she continued to work until she was 70, and was heartbroken when her position ended before she was ready to quit. When Sylvia became ill, her children reciprocated the love and care that Sylvia always gave to others. They made sure that their mom never had to live in a facility and they took turns caring for her. Sylvia passed away at home, surrounded by her loving family, on May 8, 2019, at the age of 76. Sylvia was preceded in death by her parents, and her husband Greg Hammer. She will be deeply missed by those she leaves behind: son Anthony G. (Crystal) Hammer; daughters Melinda S. (Coby) Hammer Nicar, Ruth M. Wilson, Marilyn L. Hammer-Schreiner, and Tina M. Wilson; grandchildren Jack Hammer, Pixie Hammer, Natawne Cummings, Joshua Schreiner, Devan Nicar, Justin Schreiner, Brandon Schreiner, and Jozef Wilson; and great-grandchildren Riley and Hailee Schreiner; sisters Bev Phillips and June Klinger; and brother Bob Horning. A private family Celebration of Life is planned for this summer. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Sylvia’s name made to the Alzheimer's Association.
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