Sylvia Schaab Virkler passed away peacefully on April 16th to be with God, her husband and her brother. She finally decided her children would be OK without her 😃. She was predeceased by her parents, husband Donald and brother Henry O. Schaab.

Sylvia was born on July 9, 1932 in Lowville, New York, the daughter of Henry and Dorothy Fenton Schaab. She graduated from Lowville Academy and Central School in 1950, attended Crane School of Music in Potsdam for one year and graduated from Eastman School for Dental Hygienists in Rochester. She was employed for ten years as a dental hygienist at Lowville Academy and spent valuable time raising her children Alisa and Eric.

She married Donald F. Virkler on July 17, 1954, in the Lowville Baptist Church. Their marriage lasted 64 great years until Don's passing in 2018. Beginning in 1977, they owned and operated the Donald F. Virkler Funeral Home in Lowville. They had a successful business and cared for families in the community for many years. In their free time and retirement, Sylvia and Don traveled and spent time at their camp at Beaver Lake. They very much enjoyed their Presbyterian Church family, lake friends, Lowville friends, and Schaab and Virkler families.

Sylvia was an extraordinary pianist. Her parents gave her a baby grand piano at eight years old and she played that piano until she was 92. She was hired as the organist at the Lowville Baptist Church at about age 19. She then began to play for the Lowville Presbyterian Church when she was approximately 23 years old. She continued in that role playing for the church for over 40 years. She was an accompanist for many choruses and choirs and was a teacher and mentor for many pianists and singers for all those years.

She is survived by daughter Alisa Grinnals and her husband Rev. Michael Grinnals of Syracuse, NY, son Eric Virkler and his wife Heidi VanZandt of Lowville, grandsons Scott and Jon, their spouses and three great grandsons. The family wishes to thank many friends and caregivers, especially Rose Marie and the incredible staff at the East Road Adult Home. And the staff at Lewis County General Hospital for their compassionate care during her short stay there.

We know Mom will be playing the piano and serving her amazing chocolate cake under God's loving hand.

A calling hour will be on Saturday, May 24th from 10 to 11:00am at the First Presbyterian Church with a memorial service to follow at 11:00am with Rev. Greg Jenkins officiating. Everyone is invited to a luncheon following the service in the church hall.

Memorials in Sylvia's name may be made to: Lowville First Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund, 7703 N. State Street, Lowville, NY 13367

Or on line at www.preslow.org    Use the link for "Our Giving Page"