Sylvia Fawcett

Sylvia Leto Fawcett, 95, of Kennett Square, PA passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 22, 2020 at the Jennersville Hospital in West Grove, PA.  Sylvia was a daughter to Jennie and Oreste Leto of Kennett Square. She was one of ten Leto children. Sylvia is predeceased by her husband of 53 years, Theodore (“Ted”) Fawcett, her sisters Rosalie Leto, Mary Leto, Hilda Leto Smith and her brothers Joseph Leto, Charles Leto, Oreste Leto Jr, and Frederick Leto. She is survived by her daughter, Barbara Fawcett, her grandchildren, Brian and Matthew Kirkland; her only great grandchild, James Theodore Kirkland whom unfortunately she only got to know virtually; her brothers Victor Leto and Robert Leto; and 15 nieces and nephews who knew her fondly as “Aunt Syl.”

Sylvia was born and raised at the family homestead in Kennett Square and spent her first year of education in the Kennett Consolidated School district’s one room schoolhouse. She grew up on a farm, the daughter of an immigrant mushroom grower – helping her brothers feed the chickens, milk the cows, and pack mushrooms bound for produce markets in Philadelphia and New York City. She had fond memories of the times Grandmom and Grandpop Leto took a break from farm life to spend a summer day with her siblings and cousins at Crystal Beach, MD. Sylvia graduated from Kennett High School, Class of 1943, and went on to complete her RN nursing degree from The Memorial Hospital of Wilmington, DE where she earned the title “Supervisor of the Accident Ward”.

Sylvia met her future husband as a young child. Ted was born and raised in New York City and spent time with his Aunt in Kennett Square as a young boy, becoming a close family friend of the Leto clan.  Sylvia married Ted, the love of her life, on June 17, 1950 at St. Patrick’s Church in Kennett Square. Their wedding reception was held outdoors at the farmhouse (“down home”) where she grew up. They began married life together in Indiana, where Ted worked as a mechanical engineer, but they moved back to Pennsylvania to be close to family before their only child was born. They lived in Springfield, PA from the 1960’s until moving to the Jenner’s Pond Retirement Community in 2002.

Sylvia was an accomplished golfer, bridge player and bowler, enjoyed playing piano, dancing, traveling, solving crossword puzzles and cryptograms, cross stitch, and sewing Halloween costumes for her daughter. She and Ted were members of the Overbrook Golf Club in Bryn Mawr, PA where they enjoyed socializing with close friends for many years. Sylvia cherished spending weekends and holidays with her family in Kennett Square, her in-laws in New York City and their lifelong friends (Barbara’s godparents) in Walpole, MA. Sylvia and Ted traveled to Europe many times – visiting family in Italy, playing golf in Spain, touring the sights in England, France and Switzerland.

Sylvia had a knack for writing poems to commemorate momentous occasions for family and friends’ milestone birthdays and anniversaries. She was a wonderfully kind, caring and generous “Mom Mom” to her two grandsons. When asked for three traits to describe herself, she responded “Creative”, “Loyal” and “Family Oriented.” Sylvia was cherished deeply by her late husband, daughter and grandchildren, her siblings, nieces, and nephews, and will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

You are invited to visit with Sylvia’s family from 11AM to 11:30AM (COVID PRECAUTIONS APPLY) Wednesday December 30th  2020 at the Episcopal Church of the Advent, 401 N. Union St. Kennett Square, PA 19348.  A private funeral service will follow with entombment in Cathedral Cemetery in Wilmington DE.  Contributions in her memory may be made to the Jenner’s Pond Employee Emergency Fund at https://www.jennerspond.org/about-us/giving/gift-in-memory/ and select Employee Emergency Fund under Designation or mail to: 2000 Greenbriar Lane, West Grove, PA 19390 noting EEF in the memo section.  Arrangements are by Grieco Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc. (484-734-8100) To view her online tribute and to share a memory with her family, please visit www.griecofunerals.com