Obituary of Elsa April Sylvester

Elsa April Sylvester

Folly Beach – Elsa April Sylvester, 60, of Folly Beach, South Carolina, passed away at home on Wednesday, May 16, after a courageous battle with Multiple Myeloma.  April was born on December 2, 1957, in Florence, South Carolina, to the late Dr. and Mrs. Joseph G. Sylvester.  Born very premature, April’s strength of survival proved to be her trademark throughout her life.  She was a joy to her family and everyone she met.  She briefly attended Royal School then moved to Coastal Center for Special Needs Children in Ladson, South Carolina, where she developed an independence that served her well when she moved to a group home in Charleston and worked at Goodwill.  Her participation in Special Olympics swimming began at Coastal and moved to bowling later in her life.  In the mid 1990’s April moved back to Florence residing in another group home fondly named “Happy House” and began working at McLeod Medical Center.  She loved her job there helping the nurses and patients receiving an award for her outstanding service.  Eventually April moved with her mother, the late Barbara Sylvester, to the family home on Cherokee Road.  Known for her love of animals, April always had instructions for their owners on the proper way to care for them.  She never forgot the pet’s name even if she did not remember the owner’s.  April and her mother were devoted members of St. Catherine’s Episcopal Church and loved attending performances at the Florence Little Theater.  Her favorite vacation was taking a cruise.  She was a world traveler going to Alaska, South America, the Panama Canal, and all over the Caribbean.  April enjoyed crafts making personalized beaded necklaces, bookmarks, and pencil holders.  She colored beautiful pictures which most recently hung on the 10^th floor of the Medical University Hospital in Charleston.  In 2015 April and her mother moved to Folly Beach to live with her sister and brother in law, who built a new house with space for everyone.  April met new friends at Active Day, a senior center, and enjoyed taking field trips to restaurants, museums, and farms.  Previously diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma April’s new medical team at MUSC’s Hollings Cancer Center became part of the family - Amanda, Christel, Andy, Dr. Neppali, and Dr. Walton in Orthopedics.  Her health greatly improved as she enjoyed her life at the “edge of America” and her many new friends.  She is survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Pamela and Steve Barton; her nieces Michelle, Charleston, and Stephane [Brian], Tampa, Florida; her great niece, Bridget, Tampa, Florida; aunts Sybil Voth, Richmond, Virginia, and Peggy Grimes, Banner Elk, North Carolina; along with cousins in Charleston, California, Florence, Florida, New York, and Washington, DC.  The family will gather at Folly Beach for a private celebration of her life later this summer.  Memorials in April’s name can be made to the MUSC Hollings Cancer Center, Charleston, South Carolina; MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital, Charleston, South Carolina; or St. Catherine’s Episcopal Church, Florence, South Carolina.