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Obituary: Sylvia Schaab Virkler, 92, Lowville
Published: Aril 18, 2025
By: Provided by
Sundquist Funeral Home
Sylvia Schaab
Virkler
 Sylvia Schaab Virkler passed away
peacefully on April 16th to be with God, her husband and her
brother. She finally decided her children would be OK without her J. She was predeceased by her
parents, husband Donald and brother Henry O. Schaab.
Sylvia was born
on July 9, 1932 in Lowville, New York,
the daughter of Henry and Dorothy Fenton Schaab. She graduated from Lowville Academy and Central School
in 1950, attended Crane School of Music in Potsdam for one year and graduated from Eastman School for Dental Hygienists in Rochester. She was
employed for ten years as a dental hygienist at Lowville Academy
and spent valuable time raising her children Alisa
and Eric.
She married
Donald F. Virkler on July
17, 1954, in the Lowville
Baptist Church.
Their marriage lasted 64 great years until Don’s passing in 2018. Beginning
in 1977, they owned and operated the Donald F. Virkler Funeral Home in
Lowville. They had a successful business and cared for families in the
community for many years. In their free time and retirement, Sylvia and Don
traveled and spent time at their camp at Beaver Lake.
They very much enjoyed their Presbyterian Church family, lake friends,
Lowville friends, and Schaab and Virkler families.
Sylvia was an
extraordinary pianist. Her parents gave her a baby grand piano at eight
years old and she played that piano until she was 92. She was hired as the
organist at the Lowville
Baptist Church
at about age 19. She then began to play for the Lowville Presbyterian
Church when she was approximately 23 years old. She continued in that role
playing for the church for over 40 years. She was an accompanist for many
choruses and choirs and was a teacher and mentor for many pianists and
singers for all those years.
She is survived
by daughter Alisa Grinnals and her husband Rev.
Michael Grinnals of Syracuse, NY, son Eric
Virkler and his wife Heidi VanZandt of Lowville, grandsons Scott and Jon,
their spouses and three great grandsons. The family wishes to thank many
friends and caregivers, especially Rose Marie and the incredible staff at
the East Road Adult Home. And the staff at Lewis County
General Hospital
for their compassionate care during her short stay there.
We know Mom will
be playing the piano and serving her amazing chocolate cake under God’s
loving hand.
A calling hour
will be on Saturday, May 24th from 10 to 11:00am
at the First Presbyterian Church with a memorial service to follow at 11:00am with Rev. Greg Jenkins
officiating. Everyone is invited to a luncheon following the service in the
church hall.
Memorials in
Sylvia’s name may be made to:
Lowville First
Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund
7703 N. State Street, Lowville, NY 13367
Or on line at www.preslow.org
Use the link for “Our Giving
Page”
You may leave
words of condolence at www.sundquistfh.com
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