Obituary, Sylvia Lee Bahovec

Sylvia Lee Bahovec passed away from pancreatic cancer June 26, 2013.

She was born in Caldwell, Idaho.

Sylvia lead a very exciting life in her youth. She sang and danced on USO tours, later performed on the 3rd biggest cruise ship at the time, the Raffellio, and in clubs in New Jersey. In New York the patrons would clear the floors to watch Sylvia and her husband dance. From living in the Virgin Islands to being a deck boss commercial fishing, she and Lawrence traveled abroad extensively. In Yugoslavia a film crew treated them as royalty touring with them making a documentary about Lawrence’s father Fredrick Bahovec. (Lawrence was the first native Alaskan Tlingit on TV there.)

Last year at 75 she went zip lining in Hawaii. Wrangellites will remember her as the founder of the Shady Lady Fancy Dress Ball and the ugly dog contest. She and the original Shady Ladies traveled to promote Wrangell tourism and were in the Sea Fair Parade many times. She also had “Something Special”, a gift store with beautiful and unique gifts. She made exclusive custom jewelry, was an avid reader and a fantastic cook with published recipes.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brother Rex; sons Craig Vandervest and Tom Maxand; and granddaughter Hanna Maxand.

She is survived by: her loving husband of 33 years, Lawrence Bahovec; her daughter Shannon Vandervest; grandchildren John Franco, Laura Lee and Brook Vandervest, Katrina Chelse and Heidi Berg, Trent Maxand; six great grandchildren; and siblings Vaughn and Ramona Zimmerman.

A service will be announced this fall.