Sylvia Palmer

On Sunday, May 28, 2023, Sylvia Elizabeth Warady Palmer passed away in Annapolis, MD, after a long battle with dementia.

Sylvia was born December 18, 1935 in Lyndora, PA, to Rev. Michael B Warady and Elizabeth Zombory Warady.  She was preceded in death by her parents and sisters, Andrea Volpicelli (1927-2002) and Genie Riordan Mule (1931-2022), and step-son Michael J Palmer (1962-2021). Sylvia graduated from Pittston Central Catholic High School in Pittston, PA in 1954 before moving to Arlington, VA, where she worked in local broadcasting with television station WTTG and radio station WMAL.  In 1961, she rode in President Kennedy’s Inaugural Parade on the Get DC the Right to Vote Float after the reigning Miss DC fell ill.  While she met the love of her life, Joseph H Palmer Jr., on her 20^th birthday, they did not marry until 12 years later on June 22, 1968 at St. Gregory’s Byzantine Catholic Church in Washington, DC.

After their first daughter arrived in 1969, Sylvia became a full time homemaker.  In 1970, Joe’s job took the young family to Japan where their second daughter was born in early 1971.  Upon their return to the States, they settled in Bowie, MD in 1974 where they lived in the “R” section for 45 years.  In 1987, Sylvia began working at the National Society for Histotechnology until she retired in 2005.

Sylvia is survived by her husband of almost 55 years, Joe, of Annapolis,  daughters Christine Kling and Jennifer Palmer (William Spruce),  grandson Daniel Kling, step-grandchildren Brandon and Kathleen Palmer, and a host of nieces and nephews and dear friends. 

Services will be held Friday, July 14^th at Ascension Catholic Church in Bowie, MD with Visitation at 10am and Mass at 11am. In lieu of flowers, donations in Sylvia’s name can be made to Alzheimer’s Association or your local SPCA.