Obituary: ​Sylvia Harrison Welsher, 102

from the Beecher Funeral Home

Sylvia Harrison Welsher, born 1919 passed away peacefully, one month shy of her 103rd birthday, on June 10, 2022.

She lived most of her almost 103 years in New York. She and her husband Lester raised 3 children. They moved to Brewster, New York in 1958. Soon after their arrival they joined a small group of 40 Jewish families and founded Temple Beth Elohim where she was an active member of the Sisterhood. Eventually, she began teaching in the Sunday School. It was here where she left her mark. Her grandchildren remember sitting in on her classes and observing how her students both respected and adored her. Her knowledge of the subject and her eagerness to engage her students made learning fun. Upon her retirement she was honored by former students at a widely attended “farewell” reception.

After the untimely death of her husband, Lester, Sylvia and her children started a scholarship fund in his name to be given to the Sunday School student who showed exemplary progress. She presented the award for many years.

In addition to her dedication to her family and the Temple, Sylvia taught cooking classes to students as part of the Home Economics Department at Brewster Jr. High School where she could get anyone to put on an apron. She was an excellent cook and brought that talent and enthusiasm for food to her students. It was also where she made lasting relationship with the teachers - people who were very close to her in her later years.

She adored her family and grandchildren, often taking the bus to Boston to see them. She was an adventurer, going white water rafting in her 80s with a group of girlfriends and traveling extensively. She was a loyal friend. Many of her relationships lasted decades.

Sylvia is survived by her children, Dale Riemer, Wayne Welsher and Barrie Guzovsky, her 9 grandchildren and 8 great-grand children.

Her enthusiasm for life, her humor and quick wit and her warmth and loving personality will always be a blessed memory to all who knew her.

A funeral service will be held at Beecher Funeral Home, 1 Putnam Avenue, Brewster NY, at 10:00am on Thursday June 16, 2022, followed by interment at Wellwood Cemetery, West Babylon, NY.Condolences may be left for the family at beecherfuneralhome.com