Silvia Mara Lee

Silvia Mara Lee, age 65, passed away on Sunday, March 10, 2013 at St. Lukes Hospital in Maumee. Silvia was born August 19, 1947 in Augsburg, Germany. In 1949, at two and half years old, Silvia and her mother traveled for thirteen days by ship to the United States to join her grandmother in Toledo. She attended McKinley elementary School, DeVilbiss High School, and graduated from the University of Toledo in Business Administration majoring in accounting. Silvia worked as an accountant for Milton Tony Knight, Richard Bernstein, and Vince Nathan of Nathan and Roberts before joining Eastman Smith as their controller. She eventually went into business for herself as a tax accountant. She loved her career and was fascinated with taxes, law and medicine. Silvia loved to travel and especially enjoyed her visits to Japan and the Japanese culture. She made friends easily and would gladly open up her home to the friends she met abroad and to their children. Likewise, her home was always open to any friend that needed temporary quarters. Silvia and her husband traveled extensively throughout the United States and Europe. In 1976, they celebrated the U.S. bicentennial sailing from the East River to the Hudson River enjoying the spectacular 4th of July celebrations in New York Harbor. They were avid boaters and together explored the Great Lakes and surrounding areas. With her mother, Silvia visited her birthplace in Germany and was able to visit the hospital where she was born just a week before it was torn down to make way for a shopping center. Silvia was fun loving and kind hearted and always put others before herself. She was an avid reader and had a thirst for knowledge. Silvia was an animal lover and had a special fondness for dogs. Five of her dogs, Tia, George, Maggie, Lucy, and Renee, got her in a bit of trouble once when house guests from Japan mistook the dog biscuits for hors doeuvres. She cherished the time she spent with friends and family and embraced the opportunity to meet new friends. She especially enjoyed her winters visiting her close friends in Arizona, Ron and Peggy Wade. Silvia is survived by her husband, Richard Lee; Thomas Andrea Lee of Toledo, Amy Ron Thornton Lee of Toledo, Kenneth Jean Lee of Woodville, Stephanie Thomas Fox, and recently born Alice Mae Fox all of London, England. She is also survived by cousin, Emily Barevics of Seattle, WA and dear friends, John Ritums of Portland, OR, Inta Gotelli of Seattle, WA, Paula Fall of Perrysburg, OH, and Nancy McHugh of Toledo, OH. She was preceded in death by her mother, Lima Cline; grandmother, Katrine Barevics, and uncle, Vilis Barevics. The family wishes to extend a special thank you to the dedicated and professional care given by the nurses, doctors, and staff of St. Lukes ICC. At Silvias wishes, she nobly donated her body to the University of Michigan Anatomical Donor Program so that others may benefit in the future. A memorial services will be held at later date. Memorial contributions may be given to Save-A-Pet, 5250 Hill Ave, Toledo, OH 43615, Toledo Area Humane Society, 1920 Indian Wood Cir, Maumee, OH 43537, Sophia Center, 6832 Convent Blvd, Sylvania, OH 43560, or the Boys and Girls Club of Toledo. Online condolences may be shared with the family at walkerfuneralhomes.com.