One of the world's most special people entered the kingdom of heaven on December 9, 2022.

Our Mom, Grandmom, Sister, Aunt, and dear Friend, Sylvia's passing was a complete shock to
all of her family and friends as she was so active and very healthy until her last day. Her love
and devotion to all of us will be so greatly missed.

Sylvia was born in Lexington, North Carolina to Mary Lucile Craver and Charlie Fritz, Jr. on
September 12, 1936. She was the oldest of five daughters.

Throughout her life she treasured and held her family close and had a very strong relationship
with her four sisters and their children. Her mother instilled this value in her.

Sylvia graduated from Rockingham High School in 1954 and attended Pfeiffer College.
When she was 21, she moved to Washington, D.C. with her best friend, Clara, and shortly
thereafter, her sister, Priscilla. Sylvia worked for the Navy Department. It was here at the Main
Navy building, formerly located on Constitution Avenue, where she met the love of her life and
future husband, Commander Vincent de Paul Cavanaugh ("Paul").

In Washington, Sylvia and Priscilla made lifelong friendships, the closest of whom were with
Sheila and Lillian who became adopted sisters and aunts to her daughters. They attended
theatre, concerts, sporting events, and traveled extensively.

Sylvia and Paul were married in 1965 and moved to the "new town" of Reston, Virginia. They
had three children in Reston—Mary, Paula and Cathryn Mae. In 1983, they moved to
Longwood, Florida.

Paul and Sylvia had season tickets to the Redskins for over thirty years and took their girls to
every home game from an early age. They frequently went back to D.C. for games even after
moving to Florida.

Sylvia was an active and proud member of the Red Hat Society. She was one of the founding
members of the Boa Belles, Sassy Floridians and Dixie Darlings. She was also a member of the
Daughters of the American Revolution, Duval Chapter, Winter Park, Florida, and her sisters and
daughters are members as well.

Sylvia was an active parishioner at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church and had daily interaction
with her grandchildren, Elaina Michele Steadman, Keith Cavanaugh Knapp ("KC") and Kate
Vivian Knapp. She was very close with each of them. She was their "Sybee Mom."

Sylvia is predeceased by her husband, Paul, and survived by her sisters, Priscilla Fritz, Mary Lou
Hord and Becky Gilbert and predeceased by her sister, Jackie Fritz. She is also survived by her
daughters, Mary Cavanaugh Knapp (Keith), Paula Cavanaugh Steadman (Justin) and Cathryn
Cavanaugh Blackburn (Doug).

Sylvia loved to read and her favorite time of all was at the beach surrounded by her family.
The family asks for donations be made in Sylvia's name to Catholic Charities of Central Florida
whose mission is to provide vital social services to people in need, regardless of their religious,
social or economic background.

Memorial Gathering
January 5, 2023 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
DeGusipe Funeral Home, Maitland Chapel
9001 N. Orlando Avenue
Maitland, FL 32751

Funeral Mass
January 6, 2023 at 11:00 a.m.
St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church
861 Maitland Avenue
Altamonte Springs, FL 32701