Sylvia S. Dlabal

Sylvia S. Dlabal, 99, passed away October 22, 2015 at Golden Living Center in Wilson, Kansas. She was born April 21, 1916 to John and Mary (Svoboda) Jiricek on the family farm in Ellsworth County. She spent her childhood there and attended country school until the 8th grade. In 1933, she met and fell in love with Frank A. Dlabal. On October 29, 1935 they were united marriage at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Wilson. After being married for a short time, her husband left to serve his country with the United States Army and was stationed in the Philippines and Okinawa during WWII. Upon his return, Sylvia supported her husbands’ dream to become a physician and moved with their two young daughters to Lawrence, Kansas then to Kansas City where he graduated from the University of Kansas Medical School. After graduation and a residency program in Wichita, Dr. Dlabal and Sylvia were able to move back home to Wilson and two more children were born to complete their family. In addition to being a mother, Sylvia spent a large amount of time with her grandchildren. She was often found in her kitchen making houska or molasses cookies, but what was savored most of all was her kolaches. She enjoyed mowing the grass, tending to her flowers, and was still pulling weeds from her yard well into her 90’s. Her never-ending flock chickens earned her the nickname “Chickie Gram” from the great grandchildren...a title she dearly loved. Sylvia was a member of St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church and Alter Society. On May 26, 1937 she joined Daughters of Isabella and held the longest membership on record of 78 years 5 months. Surviving family include her son, Frank Dlabal, Jr. and wife Helen of Olathe, KS, Vanita Vanek of Sylvan Grove, KS, Julia Woodmansee and husband Roger of Wilson, KS, Christita Weber of Shawnee, KS; ten grandchildren, Tina Smith, Dara Pfeffer, Anita Spears, Sandra Woodmansee, Tricia Wonderlich, Michael Weber, Melissa Prosser, Monty Weber, Angela Robinson and Christina Robinson; sixteen great grandchildren, Andrea, Anna, Cole, John, Jessica, Isaac, Zane, Finley, Elliott, Tage, Braydan, Ty, Arrianna, Isabella, Noe, and Aaliyah. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband on July 9, 1982, three brothers, Carl Jiricek, Alfred Jiricek and Stephen Jiricek, five sisters, Agnes Jiricek, Georgie Matoush, Marie Montgomery, Gertrude Kepka, Anna Skalicky-Talsky, and son in law Bob Vanek.