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In Loving Memory of

Sylvia Diamant

September 26th, 2021

Obituary

Sylvia Chester Diamant of Bayside, NY, passed away on September 26, 2021. She was 2 weeks shy of her 96th birthday.

Sylvia was the wife of the late Gabriel Diamant for over 58 years. She was mother to Ann Diamant Berlin and her husband Joe Berlin, Morris Diamant and his wife Lisa Diamant, and Ira Diamant and his wife Chari Smith. Sylvia was the proud grandmother of Kathryn, Julia and Sam Diamant, and great-grandmother of Layla Diamant.

She was the beloved sister of Leonard Chester and his wife Phoebe; Israel Chester and his wife Sarah. She is survived by many nieces and nephews whom she cherished dearly.

Sylvia was born on October 12, 1925 in Brooklyn, NY, to Yetta and Benjamin Chester. She graduated from Hunter High School and Hunter College, after majoring in social sciences and social work.

Sylvia married her beloved husband Gabe in 1947. They met as counselors at summer camp. They welcomed Ann in 1951, Morris in 1953, and Ira in 1957.

Sylvia was a person of many talents, interests and enthusiasms. She was an athlete, playing tennis, swimming a mile every day, and competing in choreographed swimming events. She was a lover of the written word. Notorious for her completion of the NY Times Crossword in pen by Sunday evening, she was also literary and thoughtful about books. She was trained as a children’s librarian, and loved to share her favorite children’s classics with her grandchildren and other young children.

She was talented with her hands as well. She was an expert in knitting and crocheting. No baby was born into the family without a blanket hand crocheted from Sylvia. She sometimes stayed up far into the night, determined to finish before the due date. She was also an amazing baker and cook. Every family gathering was graced with her famous cheesecake, lace cookies, blintzes, stuffed cabbage, eggplant salad, and cucumber salad. The lucky family members left with care packages.

Her “green” habits, born of growing up in The Great Depression, translated well to the modern era. Her habits of conservation were both a source of amusement and a thoughtful example for her children and grandchildren.

She was a passionate traveler, in search of adventure and tchotchkes all over the world.

Well into her 90s, Sylvia continued to play bridge, keep abreast of the news of the day, and attend political events in her community (maybe for the free food). Sylvia loved watching classic movies with loved ones (Roman Holiday was a regular on the rotation), and enjoyed the opera and the theater.

Sylvia was a woman of talent, energy, and intellect, and she channeled her skills and energy into her family. She was deeply proud of her family, and continuously amazed by the changes in our world and the opportunities and achievements of the people in her life. She was always ready to express her love with words, an appropriately snarky New York Times article, or, of course, food.

The service is scheduled to take place Sunday, October 3rd at 12:45 pm at the Mt. Carmel Cemetery located at 83-45 Cypress Hills Street, Glendale, NY 11385.


Arrangements by Sinai Chapels. jewishfunerals.com

Memorial Events

Graveside Service

Date & Time Sunday 10/03/2021

Address Mt. Caramel Cemetery
83-45 Cypress Hills Street
Glendale, NY 11385

OfficiatorRabbi Irwin Huberman

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