Sylvia A. Goff

SYLVIA A. GOFF, 85 ROCKFORD - Sylvia A. Goff, 85, of Rockford, passed away at 11:15 a.m. Wednesday, May 11, 2011, at Provena St. Anne Center. Born Sept. 1, 1925, in Hackensack, N.J., the daughter of Otto and Johanna (Bartel) Pommer. On May 2, 1945, she married William F. Goff, who predeceased her in 2006. The couple had four children before Sylvia pursued her lifelong dream of a college education. She received an undergraduate degree in education from Rockford College in 1959, where she reigned as the college's first adult student May queen. She earned a master's degree from Northern Illinois University and an administrative certificate from Northwestern University. She worked as a teacher, truant officer and administrator for the Rockford School system for 26 years before becoming principal of St. Rita's Grade School in 1985. A lifelong advocate of learning, she stayed active in education after her 1991 retirement by tutoring adults in reading at the Rockford Literacy Council and volunteering as a teaching assistant in the special education classrooms at East High School. She was an avid reader and loved to sew, knit, spoil her grandchildren and do various craft projects for her family, friends and a variety of causes. But most importantly, she was her children's number one fan and supported them in every endeavor each pursued. She will be greatly missed, but forever remembered for her selfless love, endless optimism and can-do spirit. Survived by children, William (Brenda) Goff of Belvidere, Donna Jean (John) Bryan of Los Angeles, Christine Friesleben of Des Moines, Iowa, and Andrea (Carl Sherer) Goff of Belvidere; grandchildren, Chad (Kelly) Friesleben, Matthew (Cari) Friesleben and Andrea K. Bryan; and great-grandchildren, Caitlyn and Nicholas Friesleben. Service at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 14, at Fitzgerald Funeral Home, 1860 S. Mulford Road. Visitation from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 13, at the funeral home, and from 9 to 9:45 a.m. Saturday. Memorials may be made to the Northern Illinois Hospice and Grief Center or to the East High School Booster Club - Softball Fund, 2929 Charles St., Rockford, IL 61108.