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Heaven has gained an incredibly special angel. With heavy hearts we announce that Sylvia Jane (Kattouf) Hanna, 83, of West View, formerly of Altoona, passed away Wednesday after a brief illness.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Nicholas J. Hanna, Ph.D.; and a brother, Subdeacon Gregory Kattouf.
She was the loving mother of Sophia (Robert) Mooney and Damian (Nicole) Hanna; cherished sister of Theodore (Jeannie) Kattouf and George Thomas (Melanie) Kattouf; a sister-in-law to "the other" Sylvia Hanna; the proud grandmother of Chloe (Jordan Blake), Nathan, Aubrey, Brian, Tierney and Lachlan Hanna and Sierra Mooney; the great-grandmother of Messiah and Kyrie Blake; and devoted aunt, great-aunt, cousin and friend to many.
Sylvia, the daughter of the late Habeeb and Victoria (Bahou) Kattouf, grew up in Altoona. She developed a passion for acting and appeared in many plays at Altoona High School and The Mishler Theatre. She was very involved in the Syrian Orthodox Church, where her grandfather was the priest, and participated in the Syrian Orthodox Youth Organization.
Sylvia went on to Indiana State Teachers College (now Indiana University of Pennsylvania) to study speech/language pathology. While there, she continued to act in plays and was a member of Alpha Sigma Tau Sorority. Sylvia furthered her education at West Virginia University, where she earned a master's degree in speech/language pathology. Sylvia would later go on to earn a second master's degree in counselor education from Duquesne University.
After working for Easter Seals in Altoona and the speech clinic at Ohio University, Sylvia moved to Pittsburgh, where she designed and taught a parent/toddler program for the Living Learning Center while also offering private speech therapy out of her home. In 1978, Sylvia took on the position of speech/language pathologist for Hampton School District, where she worked tirelessly until her retirement in 2005. After retirement,
Sylvia continued to volunteer helping tutor students in a second grade classroom.
Throughout her life, Sylvia continued to act in community theater, with some of her favorite roles being Serafina in The Rose Tattoo, Olive in The Odd Couple (Female Version), Kate in Brighton Beach Memoirs, Yente in Fiddler on the Roof and Tillie in Dance Like a Butterfly -- a one-woman show about an octogenarian reflecting on her life.
Sylvia was devout in her faith and regularly attended St. Alexander Nevsky Orthodox Cathedral, where she served as president of the Women's Association and directed the Christmas Yolka for many years, sang in the choir, made pierogies and ran the religious gift shop. She loved her church and prayer group family.
Sylvia's other passion was helping others, especially children. She was "mom" to just about everyone she ever met and made everyone feel special. She never forgot a birthday or milestone.
She worked to support many charitable causes, most notably Covenant House, International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC), PA Connecting Communities and The Women's Choice Network, to name a few. Sylvia was a devoted advocate for individuals with Down syndrome -- in particular her brother, Greg, for whom she was like a second mother. Over the years, she helped many parents understand the blessing of welcoming a child with Down syndrome into their family, and supported them, her brother and his friends in any way possible.
Sylvia's greatest joy was her children, their spouses, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She delighted in going to shows, the library, the playground and Dewey Beach, Del., with them. She attended every performance, sporting event, award night and event she could and even acted/directed in a children's theater group along with Sophia and Damian in the 1980s. She is fondly remembered as Grandma Hanna and Mary Poppins!
Sylvia enjoyed cooking, dining out, watching live theater, singing, talking on the phone, giving gifts, playing Boggle, her book club, her prayer group, learning about spirituality and past lives, loving her family and friends and being a true Good Samaritan. She had the biggest, kindest heart and will be missed beyond measure.
Friends will be received from 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024, at Devlin Funeral Home Inc., 806 Perry Hwy., Pittsburgh.
A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 15, 2024, at St. Alexander Nevsky Orthodox Cathedral, 8290 Thompson Run Road, Pittsburgh, with Father John Mikita officiating.
Everyone please meet at the church.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to any of the charities listed above.
devlinfuneralhome.com