Sylvia Lee Gossard, 82 years old, passed away peacefully into the arms of Jesus, her Lord and Savior,
with her family by her side on August 11,2021.

Sylvia was born on April 24, 1939 to Lawrence Edward and Catherine Louise (Jones)Allen who preceded her
in death.

Sylvia graduated from Roseville High School in Roseville, Michigan, just outside of Detroit. Her senior year she was crowned the Homecoming Queen and just a couple years later she met the love of her life. Jerry Gossard of Spencerville, Ohio had moved to Mt. Clemens, Michigan to find work as an automobile salesman and met his future wife while delivering a new car to her father. It was love at first sight. After just a six-week engagement, they were married on May 30, 1959. Sylvia and Jerry made their home together in the Lima area and raised a family of three.

Sylvia spent her life as an expert home maker, devoting herself to her children, caring for her husband, and enjoying her family and friends. Sylvia loved to entertain and have family and friends over for dinner. She loved to cook and bake, making exceptional cherry pies! Sylvia also loved to get all dressed up to go dancing with Jerry and her friends. She loved to swim, have cook-outs, and make home-made ice cream. She loved gardening and showing off her beautiful flowers around the home. She just liked to have fun.

Sylvia loved Jesus! She was a member of Shawnee Alliance Church for many years where she served God with many great friends. The church nursery and teaching Sunday school to hundreds of children were her God’s call into ministry. After her children were grown, Sylvia, with her husband, added to this calling by supporting the Teens for Christ program of Lima. This ministry included having teens over to their home for fellowship and swimming parties. Sylvia’s influence and legacy of ministering to the youth in the Lima community lives on in several of her own grandchildren.
Sylvia is a testimony to God’s incredible grace and his unconditional love. She lived as she believed, that all troubles on this earth could be overcome with a kind word, prayer, and praising Jesus!

Sylvia loved her family. She was so proud of them all, and she talked about them always! Her children, and grandchildren, and great grandchildren are her pride and joy!

After 61 years of marriage Jerry preceded her in death on September 29th 2020.
Sylvia is survived by: Michael (Robyn) Gossard of Sidney, Cynthia (Jeffery) Kennedy of Elida, Stephen (Darla) Gossard of Wapakoneta.
Grandchildren: Joshua (Jessica) Kennedy, Marisa (Dave) Lehman, Cory Gossard, Casandra (Jeremy) Martin, Samantha (Brian) Dykstra, Natalie Gossard (Zach Lavy), Shannon & McKenna O’Donnell.
Great Grandchildren: Trey, Gage, and Cove Kennedy, Grady, Haven, and Jayce Lehman, Hudson and Benson Martin, and the newest to arrive, her namesake, Sylvia Karen Lavy.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM on Monday, August 16, 2021 at Shawnee Alliance Church, East Campus, 4455 Shawnee Rd., Lima, OH 45806. Burial will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 11:00 AM until the time of the service at the church. Chiles-Laman Funeral & Cremation Services is assisting the family.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.chiles-lamanfh.com.