Mary Frances Syptak-Florian

Mary Syptak-Florian age 99 years 9 months passed away into the loving arms of Jesus April 14, 2014 in Houston, Texas. She was surrounded in love by her family and the wonderful staff of Vitas Hospice in The Woodlands. She is now free from all the health problems she has experienced for many years and is rejoicing in the great reunion she is having with family members who have gone before her and with her beloved Savior, Jesus Christ. What a celebration time this is for her! Mary was born in the community of Merle, Texas (near present day Snook, Texas) to Jan and Frances Lednicky. After growing up in the country, taking care of her invalid mother and three brothers, she came to Houston as a young woman where she met and married Elo Syptak. They were blessed with five children, Charles, John (Jack), Gary, Shirley and Beverly. Many years after Elo’s death in 1973, she married Charlie Florian, a family friend. Charlie preceded her in death in 1990. Also greeting her in Heaven are her eldest son, Charles and her granddaughter, Karen Woods. Mary is survived by her children John (Jack) Syptak and wife Sunny of Dandridge, Tennessee, Gary and wife Judy of The Woodlands, Texas, Shirley and husband Paul Machac of Huntington, Texas , Beverly and husband Greig LaRue of Houston, Texas and Kathryn Syptak, her beloved daughter-in-law. Left to also honor her passing are grandchildren Charles Syptak, Jr., Christine Butts, Rayburn Johnston, Kimberly Carpenter, Amori Lunney, Brian Syptak, Gregory Syptak, Shelley Guthrie, Stephanie Hoffmann, Tracey Varga, and Tim Machac. She was blessed with many great and great-great grandchildren and extended family and friends. If there were a need for a master chef in Heaven, Mary would surely pass the test. She was a wonderful cook and was known for her hospitality to friends and family. She always had something good prepared for them and sent plenty home with them. She loved her plants and yard and it was a dark day in her life when she could no longer cook or garden. She knew hard work for most of her life beginning on the farm, then being the mother of five and also a loving caregiver to her mother and her husband, Elo. She never complained about any of this. She just accepted her lot as daughter, sister, wife and mother in a Godly way and did her best in whatever she undertook. If she could tell you something today, it would be what she always told her children, “Love one another”. She loved her children and family with all of her heart and always wanted the best for each of them. Mary was a long-time member of Houston Brethren Church. The family would like to thank her faithful friend, Margaret Vranesebich, for all of her caring calls to check on Mom, her nurse, Grace Ajibola who exhibited the love of Christ in ministering to Mom for several years, and Drs. Scott Lisse and Kenneth Lloyd who attended to Mom’s physical needs so well. Special thanks also to the Vitas Hospice Care team who were loving and kind to Mom and all of us in the family during this difficult time.

Mary Frances Syptak-Florian

April 17, 2014