Sylvia (Sally Simon) Rezac, 91
Sylvia (Sally Simon,) Rezac, 91, of Owatonna, died June 12th, 2020.
Sylvia was born in New Prague, MN to Bohumil and Ludmilla (Kalina) Simon. She was the 6th of 9 children. Sylvia grew up speaking Czech and later learned English and Latin in Catholic school.
Every summer on the farm as a young child, it gave her great joy caring for her flocks of ducklings and goslings. Due to chronic respiratory problems, Sylvia spent most winter days staying with her Grandma Kalina in Veseli, attending Most Holy Trinity Catholic school.
Sylvia graduated from New Prague High School in 1946, and had the honor of being crowned Homecoming Queen.
She loved music and dancing. She and her friends practiced dance steps while listening to dance instruction records. Many Saturday nights were spent dancing at the Kato Ballroom. There, she met her future husband, Armond, who was playing with the band. They married on May 7th, 1949 at Most Holy Trinity church in Veseli, MN.
Accordion music was becoming popular and The Traficante Music Company of St. Paul offered Sylvia and Armond the opportunity to open an accordion school in Owatonna.
On their first wedding anniversary, the couple was blessed with preemie twins, Robert and Beverly. Sylvia and Armond opened a teaching studio in their home for several years until their third child, Nancy was born.
Sylvia loved history and traced her family’s genealogy back many generations. She loved reading and sewing. She was a talented seamstress, sewing for family and friends.
She was a volunteer leader for Boy and Girl Scouts. She volunteered for heart and cancer drives, and cared for children of single mothers so the women could maintain their jobs. Sylvia enjoyed many years working retail at Cedar Mall.
After she retired, Sylvia enjoyed her flower and vegetable gardens. She was known for her beautiful roses for over sixty years. She loved sewing for her grandchildren. Her family meant the world to her, and always came first.
She was a long time member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, St. Joseph’s Council of Catholic Women, the Steele County Historical Society, and the Owatonna Senior Center.
Sylvia is survived by her children; Bob (Diane) Rezac of Owatonna, Beverly (Steve) Pochardt of OR, Nancy (Marc) Crowson of ID. Seven grandchildren; Michael (Christine) Riley, Pennsylvania, Elizabeth Pochardt, Oregon, Julia Pochardt, ID, Rebecca (Tom) Mouwen, CA, Adam Crowson, Wyoming, Emma Crowson, ID, Callie Rezac, Minnetonka.
Three great-grandchildren; Tyler and Moriah Riley, PA, and Lucas Mouwen, CA. Two great-great-grandchildren; Landon Riley and Izzy Pochardt.
Brother; Eugene (Ceil) Simon, New Prague. Sisters; Irene (Ray) Scheffler, Benson, Laura (Tom) Jirik, Lonsdale. Sisters-in-law Ceil (Eugene) Simon, Janet (Milton) Simon. Also many loving relatives and friends. Sylvia was preceded in death by her parents, her loving husband Armond, brothers; Ray, Albert, Bob, Milton and infant brother Joseph. Sisters- in- law, Florence, Elvira and Ann Simon. Brothers- in- law; Ray Scheffler and Tom Jirik.
Mass of Christian Burial is Thursday, June 18th at St. Joseph’s Owatonna. Rosary at 9:45, Visitation 10:15 and Funeral Mass at 11:00. Inurnment will be beside her husband at Calvary Cemetery, Lonsdale MN.
Her favorite saying; “Take time to laugh, it’s the music of the soul.”
The family would like to thank the staff at Koda Living Community and Owatonna Hospital for their loving care of our mother.
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