Sylvia Penca

Sylvia C. Penca, 94, of East Moline, passed away Monday, June 6, 2016, at her home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Hampton, where Sylvia was a member since 1941. Burial will be at Hampton Township Cemetery. Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Friday at Schroder Mortuary in Silvis, with a rosary at 3:30 p.m. Memorials may be made to St. Mary's Catholic Church. Sylvia Kerzich was born Aug. 17, 1921, in Rockdale, Ill., to Frank and Kristina Cigoy Kerzich. She married Edward Penca Nov. 26, 1938, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Rockdale. He preceded her in death Jan. 9, 1997. Sylvia was very active in her church as a Eucharistic minister, lector, RCIA team member, in the prayer and hospitality ministries, in the Altar Society and assisted with the Vacation Bible School. In earlier years she taught CCD classes. She was active in Cursillo No. 534 and Watch. Sylvia was a real estate representative for many years and had always been active in civic affairs. She served in the Democratic Party for 52 years, 46 years as a precinct committeeman. When she was elected in 1952, she was the first woman to hold an elective post in Rock Island County. She held the post of treasurer and recording secretary on the Democratic Central Committee. She served in the advising council to juvenile court and was active in the Girl Scouts, a past president of the Silvis PTA and Silvis Women's Club, and a charter member of Illini Hospital since it opened in 1968 until 2010. She was a volunteer tax aide counselor, preparing taxes for the poor and elderly. As a member of the Slovene National Benefit Society, she served as the recording secretary for 43 years and twice was a delegate to the National Convention. She was also a member of KSKJ and was proud of her Slovenian Heritage. Sylvia was a daily walker well into her 80s, an avid reader and traveled extensively throughout the United States and Canada and five extended trips through Europe. Survivors include her daughter, Edrise Sievers, Venice, Fla.; sons, Edward Penca, Unionville, Mo., Jack Penca, Smyrna, Del., and Richard Penca, Spokane, Wash.; 15 grandchildren; 20 great grandchildren and one great-grandchild; and a brother, Frank Kerzich, Davenport. Sylvia was preceded in death by her husband, one brother and four sisters







Sylvia was very active in her church as a Eucharistic minister, lector, RCIA team member, in the prayer and hospitality ministries, in the Altar Society and assisted with the Vacation Bible School. In earlier years she taught CCD classes. She was active in Cursillo No. 534 and Watch. Sylvia was a real estate representative for many years and had always been active in civic affairs. She served in the Democratic Party for 52 years, 46 years as a precinct committeeman. When she was elected in 1952, she was the first woman to hold an elective post in Rock Island County. She held the post of treasurer and recording secretary on the Democratic Central Committee. She served in the advising council to juvenile court and was active in the Girl Scouts, a past president of the Silvis PTA and Silvis Women's Club, and a charter member of Illini Hospital since it opened in 1968 until 2010. She was a volunteer tax aide counselor, preparing taxes for the poor and elderly. As a member of the Slovene National Benefit Society, she served as the recording secretary for 43 years and twice was a delegate to the National Convention. She was also a member of KSKJ and was proud of her Slovenian Heritage. Sylvia was a daily walker well into her 80s, an avid reader and traveled extensively throughout the United States and Canada and five extended trips through Europe. Survivors include her daughter, Edrise Sievers, Venice, Fla.; sons, Edward Penca, Unionville, Mo., Jack Penca, Smyrna, Del., and Richard Penca, Spokane, Wash.; 15 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and a brother, Frank Kerzich, Davenport. Sylvia was preceded in death by her husband, one brother and four sisters.







Sylvia was very active in her church as a Eucharistic minister, lector, RCIA team member, in the prayer and hospitality ministries, in the Altar Society and assisted with the Vacation Bible School. In earlier years she taught CCD classes. She was active in Cursillo No. 534 and Watch. Sylvia was a real estate representative for many years and had always been active in civic affairs. She served in the Democratic Party for 52 years, 46 years as a precinct committeeman. When she was elected in 1952, she was the first woman to hold an elective post in Rock Island County. She held the post of treasurer and recording secretary on the Democratic Central Committee. She served in the advising council to juvenile court and was active in the Girl Scouts, a past president of the Silvis PTA and Silvis Women's Club, and a charter member of Illini Hospital since it opened in 1968 until 2010. She was a volunteer tax aide counselor, preparing taxes for the poor and elderly. As a member of the Slovene National Benefit Society, she served as the recording secretary for 43 years and twice was a delegate to the National Convention. She was also a member of KSKJ and was proud of her Slovenian Heritage. Sylvia was a daily walker well into her 80s, an avid reader and traveled extensively throughout the United States and Canada and five extended trips through Europe. Survivors include her daughter, Edrise Sievers, Venice, Fla.; sons, Edward Penca, Unionville, Mo., Jack Penca, Smyrna, Del., and Richard Penca, Spokane, Wash.; 15 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and a brother, Frank Kerzich, Davenport. Sylvia was preceded in death by her husband, one brother and four sisters.







Sylvia was very active in her church as a Eucharistic minister, lector, RCIA team member, in the prayer and hospitality ministries, in the Altar Society and assisted with the Vacation Bible School. In earlier years she taught CCD classes. She was active in Cursillo No. 534 and Watch. Sylvia was a real estate representative for many years and had always been active in civic affairs. She served in the Democratic Party for 52 years, 46 years as a precinct committeeman. When she was elected in 1952, she was the first woman to hold an elective post in Rock Island County. She held the post of treasurer and recording secretary on the Democratic Central Committee. She served in the advising council to juvenile court and was active in the Girl Scouts, a past president of the Silvis PTA and Silvis Women's Club, and a charter member of Illini Hospital since it opened in 1968 until 2010. She was a volunteer tax aide counselor, preparing taxes for the poor and elderly. As a member of the Slovene National Benefit Society, she served as the recording secretary for 43 years and twice was a delegate to the National Convention. She was also a member of KSKJ and was proud of her Slovenian Heritage. Sylvia was a daily walker well into her 80s, an avid reader and traveled extensively throughout the United States and Canada and five extended trips through Europe. Survivors include her daughter, Edrise Sievers, Venice, Fla.; sons, Edward Penca, Unionville, Mo., Jack Penca, Smyrna, Del., and Richard Penca, Spokane, Wash.; 15 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and a brother, Frank Kerzich, Davenport. Sylvia was preceded in death by her husband, one brother and four sisters.







Sylvia was very active in her church as a Eucharistic minister, lector, RCIA team member, in the prayer and hospitality ministries, in the Altar Society and assisted with the Vacation Bible School. In earlier years she taught CCD classes. She was active in Cursillo No. 534 and Watch. Sylvia was a real estate representative for many years and had always been active in civic affairs. She served in the Democratic Party for 52 years, 46 years as a precinct committeeman. When she was elected in 1952, she was the first woman to hold an elective post in Rock Island County. She held the post of treasurer and recording secretary on the Democratic Central Committee. She served in the advising council to juvenile court and was active in the Girl Scouts, a past president of the Silvis PTA and Silvis Women's Club, and a charter member of Illini Hospital since it opened in 1968 until 2010. She was a volunteer tax aide counselor, preparing taxes for the poor and elderly. As a member of the Slovene National Benefit Society, she served as the recording secretary for 43 years and twice was a delegate to the National Convention. She was also a member of KSKJ and was proud of her Slovenian Heritage. Sylvia was a daily walker well into her 80s, an avid reader and traveled extensively throughout the United States and Canada and five extended trips through Europe. Survivors include her daughter, Edrise Sievers, Venice, Fla.; sons, Edward Penca, Unionville, Mo., Jack Penca, Smyrna, Del., and Richard Penca, Spokane, Wash.; 15 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and a brother, Frank Kerzich, Davenport. Sylvia was preceded in death by her husband, one brother and four sisters.







Sylvia was very active in her church as a Eucharistic minister, lector, RCIA team member, in the prayer and hospitality ministries, in the Altar Society and assisted with the Vacation Bible School. In earlier years she taught CCD classes. She was active in Cursillo No. 534 and Watch. Sylvia was a real estate representative for many years and had always been active in civic affairs. She served in the Democratic Party for 52 years, 46 years as a precinct committeeman. When she was elected in 1952, she was the first woman to hold an elective post in Rock Island County. She held the post of treasurer and recording secretary on the Democratic Central Committee. She served in the advising council to juvenile court and was active in the Girl Scouts, a past president of the Silvis PTA and Silvis Women's Club, and a charter member of Illini Hospital since it opened in 1968 until 2010. She was a volunteer tax aide counselor, preparing taxes for the poor and elderly. As a member of the Slovene National Benefit Society, she served as the recording secretary for 43 years and twice was a delegate to the National Convention. She was also a member of KSKJ and was proud of her Slovenian Heritage. Sylvia was a daily walker well into her 80s, an avid reader and traveled extensively throughout the United States and Canada and five extended trips through Europe. Survivors include her daughter, Edrise Sievers, Venice, Fla.; sons, Edward Penca, Unionville, Mo., Jack Penca, Smyrna, Del., and Richard Penca, Spokane, Wash.; 15 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and a brother, Frank Kerzich, Davenport. Sylvia was preceded in death by her husband, one brother and four sisters.







Sylvia was very active in her church as a Eucharistic minister, lector, RCIA team member, in the prayer and hospitality ministries, in the Altar Society and assisted with the Vacation Bible School. In earlier years she taught CCD classes. She was active in Cursillo No. 534 and Watch. Sylvia was a real estate representative for many years and had always been active in civic affairs. She served in the Democratic Party for 52 years, 46 years as a precinct committeeman. When she was elected in 1952, she was the first woman to hold an elective post in Rock Island County. She held the post of treasurer and recording secretary on the Democratic Central Committee. She served in the advising council to juvenile court and was active in the Girl Scouts, a past president of the Silvis PTA and Silvis Women's Club, and a charter member of Illini Hospital since it opened in 1968 until 2010. She was a volunteer tax aide counselor, preparing taxes for the poor and elderly. As a member of the Slovene National Benefit Society, she served as the recording secretary for 43 years and twice was a delegate to the National Convention. She was also a member of KSKJ and was proud of her Slovenian Heritage. Sylvia was a daily walker well into her 80s, an avid reader and traveled extensively throughout the United States and Canada and five extended trips through Europe. Survivors include her daughter, Edrise Sievers, Venice, Fla.; sons, Edward Penca, Unionville, Mo., Jack Penca, Smyrna, Del., and Richard Penca, Spokane, Wash.; 15 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and a brother, Frank Kerzich, Davenport. Sylvia was preceded in death by her husband, one brother and four sisters.