Sylvia Mae (Stephens) Criss, 102, of New Sharon, Iowa, passed away peacefully in the early morning of March, 4, 2019 at the Eaton County Health and Rehabilitation Services in Charlotte, Michigan. Sylvia was born Sept. 3, 1916 in Lacey, Iowa to Oscar and Hettie (McCain) Stephens. She married the love of her life, Ed Criss, on September 20, 1936. Together they journeyed thru life for the next 56 years until Ed passed in December 1992. She bravely ran the family household, raising 2 toddlers and a young sister-in-law, while Ed was sent to Europe to fight in WWII. When her husband was sent home after being critically injured in battle in France, she continued to care for everyone while nursing him back to health and eventually giving birth to their third son. The couple became very active in their community with Sylvia playing the role of team mother to the many, many athletes Ed coached throughout the years. She was an active lifelong member of the New Sharon United Methodist Church, serving on numerous committees. She won many awards for her gardening and needlework talents. During her years in Fulton, IL, Sylvia was active selling Avon and raising African Violets that she sold wholesale to florists in the area. She was an excellent cook and baker, always having her cookie jar full of goodies when the grandchildren came to visit. While they resided in Fulton, she was an active member of the Fulton Presbyterian Church. After she and Ed retired back to New Sharon, she became a founding member of the 50+ Club and was active in the New Sharon Garden Club. She and Ed spent countless hours creating and maintaining the New Sharon Friendship Garden on the corner where the new veteran's memorial recently was erected.

Most of all, Sylvia will be remembered as the loving matriarch of her family. She is survived by her sons, Wayne (Bilge) Criss of Cambridge, MD and Donald (Jan) Criss of Okemos, MI, her daughter in law, Sharon Criss of Fulton, IL, as well as 11 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, 6 great-great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Preceding her in death were her beloved husband, Ed; youngest son, Norman, granddaughter Lisa, great-granddaughter Kelly and her sisters: Blanche Knowler, Pauline Tice, Ruby Gerard and Violet Else. She was also preceded in death by her sister-in-law who was like a daughter to her, Bertha VerSteegh.

Services for Sylvia will be on Saturday, March 9, 2019 at Holland-Coble Funeral Home in New Sharon, Iowa with grandsons Mark Criss, Executive Director of The City Rescue Mission, Lansing, MI and Rich Criss, ministry coordinator of Emmanuel Reformed Church, Morrison, Illinois officiating. Burial will follow at Friends Cemetery in New Sharon. Family visitation is at 9:00am. Family will receive friends at 10:00am with the funeral service at 11:00am. Memorial gifts may be made to The City Rescue Mission in Lansing, MI. https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/1439238?code=Donate+Button.