Sylvia Klemens passed away on Friday October 20, 2023, in her home surrounded by immediate family who loved her. She was under the care of hospice, and she had been diagnosed with an uncurable form of pancreatic cancer in May of 2023.
Born Sylvia Cecilia Boscacci on September 28, 1950, in San Francisco, CA to parents who immigrated from Switzerland, Sylvia was raised in San Francisco in the Marina district. She graduated from Presentation High School in 1968 and trained to be a dental assistant at City College San Francisco where she graduated in 1970. She was working as a dental assistant in San Francisco when she met her soulmate and husband-to-be Tony. They married on August 4, 1973. After the birth of their daughter, Sylvia and Tony moved to Walnut Creek, CA in 1979, which is where their son was born. Sylvia lived in their Walnut Creek home through her death.
Sylvia loved her children and stopped working in order to be a stay-at-home mom. She encouraged her children to play outside, swim in the pool, and be creative with art projects. When her children were older, she went back to work as a surgical dental assistant and worked in a periodontal office for 20 years. Sylvia retired in the same year as Tony in 2012, and relished life without work. They enjoyed spending time outside by the pool as well as sharing food and drink (and dessert!) together and with family and friends. They traveled often to visit their children in New Mexico and Oregon and were able to take some trips to Mexico, Europe, and Hawaii. Sylvia took Italian language lessons and enjoyed playing games including Bunco with friends from church and Wordle with her family.
Sylvia was deeply involved in her faith community at both St. John Vianney and Saint Bonaventure parishes. She taught religious education and participated in youth ministry. She was also a eucharistic minister.
Sylvia loved to talk, laugh, and socialize. She had a beautiful smile that she displayed often and was always happy. She was a warm, sensitive, and caring person. She taught her children to speak their minds with honesty and integrity. She had a great sense of humor and kept everyone laughing even when sick. She was dearly loved and will be greatly missed. There is a deep void in our lives without her, but she will forever be in our hearts.
Sylvia is survived by her husband of 50 years, Anton “Tony” Klemens Jr., daughter Katrina Nardini and son-in-law Peter Nardini, son Anton Klemens III and daughter-in-law Jill Klemens, sister Adele Judnick and brother-in-law Dan Judnick, niece Maria Timmons and her husband Ryan Timmons and children Dante and Anton Timmons, nephew Daniel Judnick, and countless cousins in both the USA and Switzerland.
Sylvia is preceded in death by her parents, Natalina and Clemente Boscacci and her mother- and father-in-law, Francis and Anton “Tony” Klemens Sr.
We will celebrate Sylvia’s life on Thursday November 9, 2023. Services will be held at Saint Bonaventure Church: 5562 Clayton Rd, Concord, CA 94521
-Visitation (and Memorial) at 10:30
-Funeral Mass at 11:30
-Reception at 12:30
-There will be a private Committal with immediate family at the cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in her memory to one of these charities:
· Sisters of the Presentation, San Francisco – “Though the ways in which we minister are always changing, we remain engaged in learning, advocating, and encouraging others to bring forth a sustainable society founded on respect for the earth, universal human rights, economic justice, and a culture of peace.” https://presentationsisterssf.org/
· Sylvia’s mother had Alzheimer’s and this cause was dear to her heart: The Alzheimer's Association – “Leads the way to end Alzheimer's and all other dementia — by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support.” https://www.alz.org/
