This world and our family has lost a great lady!!!
Known by many names, titles, and skills: granddaughter, daughter, mom, wife, gram, big gram, aunt, companion, pen pal, neighbor, friend, seamstress, artist, painter, homemaker, farmer’s wife, avid reader, constant Scrabble player, expert country cook, award-winning quilter, baker, wall paper hanger, cookie maker, yard sale hunter/holder, gift giver, carpenter, master gardener, care giver and child of Christ, etc. ... Sylvia N (Todd) Fisher, 95, of Crawfordsville passed onto the heavenly plain Sunday, May 2, 2021, at Ben Hur Health and Rehabilitation.
Sylvia (Gram) was born June 18, 1925, to the late Joseph Leonard and Ida E. (Brown) Todd in Paducah, Kentucky. Gram impacted many others on her long and meaningful life. In many ways (mostly old school) she was the definition of a strong, independent, selfless and family-focused woman. She was the matriarch of my family (Harry and Judy Britton) and was the glue that held us together. It is hard to imagine our lives without her, but in too many ways to mention Gram played a major role in setting the members of my clan down their own paths of having meaningful lives.
Gram lived that independent life all the way to her end here on this physical plain, living on her own until a little over two weeks ago when a small infection was too much for her to fight off. She gave it her best as she did with all her endeavors, but I feel she started to see that her independence was at stake and along with her age, she determined to go home peacefully with the grace and love she always demonstrated.
I was blessed to be with Gram on Easter in the hospital as we watched Dr. David Jeremiah’s gospel message and Gram reaffirmed her belief and faith in Jesus.
We would like to thank those who showed care and compassion for Gram in her final physical battle here on earth: the Franciscan Hospital Crawfordsville, Kindred Hospice, Ben Hur Health and Rehabilitation and especially Dr. Mathison (and his staff) for caring for Gram over the years and doing his very best for her up to the end.
Gram become a lifelong member of the Fisher clan when she married my grandpa Jack Fisher, in the forties and gave birth to my mom, Rita Fisher Boraker soon after, who preceded Gram in her passing.
Gram was on her own at the age of 13 and her young life (actually whole life) could be a book or mini-series. She was an old school homesteading farm wife and homemaker that yuppies only read and dream about in books nowadays as the try to get back to “simpler” times.
Gram worked at JC Penneys for many years, starting when it was one of the anchor stores in downtown Crawfordsville through it’s move to the “new” indoor mall. From there Gram moved to Target retiring in 1982, continuing to live alone and care for her home, yard, gardens and family until just over a few weeks ago. She loved to cook, bake, can and welcome her family. She was known by “Gram” to many.
Sylvia is survived by two grandsons, Harry (Judy) and Jack (Wendy) Britton; special granddaughter Gemma Britton; three great-grandsons, Jack (Prue) Britton, Samuel Britton and Austin Britton; great-granddaughter Hanna Britton; great-great-grandchildren, Weston Britton (Hanna), Scarlett and Elliot (Jack and Prue) and Elizabeth (Sam Britton); and several nieces and nephews. Gram had a special correspondence relationship with her niece Deb Wilbur of California.
Sylvia was preceded in death by her parents; daughter Rita Fisher Boraker (Ross Boraker); two infant children; and her siblings, Odus Todd, Lee Todd, Jd Bullock, John T. Bullock, Thelma Hargis, Gwendolyn Osborn, Geneva Sommer, Margorie Bullock and Joann Hargis.
Cremation was chosen with a celebration of life/open house at Gram’s house at 116 Vermont St. on May 15 from 1-4 p.m. Everyone who wants to review and celebrate Gram’s life with us is welcome to stop by. We will also be sharing some of grams (and ours) favorite recipes: homemade noodles, fried chicken, emerald salad, etc. … to snack on.
When you come if you can please write out a short remembrance or story about Gram and sign it, we would love it.
We are also planning a memorial garden for Gram so please bring a small plant (maybe from your own garden) or garden decoration. Notes and remembrances can also be left at Sanders Priebe Funeral Care (sandersfuneralcare.com) who have been very caring in assisting with grams final arrangements.
At 4 p.m. we will proceed to the New Ross Cemetery to say our final goodbye to Gram and place her ashes to rest.
(written by Gram and her grandson, Harry Britton)
