The family of Sylvia Kalishman with great sadness announces the passing of our beloved mother and grandmother on September 22 at age 85 in Gainesville Florida.A native of Des Moines, Iowa, Sylvia moved to Pensacola Florida in 1952, where she lovingly reared her family and retired after 35 years in Civil Service from the Supply Department at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola.Sylvia was an active member of B'nai Israel Synagogue in Pensacola serving on many committees and for a term as president of Sisterhood. She was involved in Hadassah and the Friendship Club.After moving to Gainesville, Florida in 2002 to be close to family, she became an active member of B'nai Israel Synagogue in Gainesville, where she could be found most Sundays helping to prepare food forSundaySchool students.Her joy was her children and grandchildren, to whom she gave unconditional love, and participating in many volunteer activities in the community. Countless international students and service members from around the world considered her home and family as their surrogate family.She is predeceased by her daughter Linda Kalishman Shoemake of Pinellas Park, Florida, and sisters Rosalie Forster of Plainview, New York, and Gloria Rivera of Orlando Florida. She leaves behind her son Steven Kalishman and daughter Frances Chesnutt of Gainesville; daughter Dr. Jennifer Druxman of St. Louis, Missouri, and son Matthew Kalishman of New York, New York, along with grandchildren Jeremy Freeman of Houston, Texas; Kellen Chesnutt of Gainesville, Florida, Alexandr Kalishman of Denver, Colorado, and Yoel Druxman and Rayna Druxman of St. Louis, Missouri.Graveside services were held at B'nai Israel Cemetery in Gainesville on September 23. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Sylvia's name to the Bnai Israel Synagogue in Gainesville. Funeral Home Forest Meadows Funeral Home 725 NW 23rd Avenue Gainsville FL - 32609 US 352-378-2528