Camille Sylvester

Camille Janet Bruzek was born to Roman Catholic, Czechoslovakian immigrants, John and Anna (Voight) Bruzek, on May 30, 1914. She was raised on a country farm south of Alexandria, Minnesota. Until she was fourteen years old, she resided there with her parents and two brothers, Paul and Emil. As a very young teenager, she left home and moved to Chicago to live with her aunt and uncle and later worked as a nanny for a professional comedian and his family. In her late teens, she moved back to Minnesota to make her home in Glenwood, where she worked for the Wilson family. This was where she met her future husband, Norvel Sylvester. The couple was united in marriage in 1937 and settled on a small farm in Blue Mounds Township, southwest of Starbuck, Minnesota. To this union five children were born and baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church. Immanuel Church and its congregation became a big and important part of Camille's life.



Camille died on Thursday, October 27, 2005 at the Stevens Community Medical Center in Morris, having lived to reach the age of 91 years.



She is survived by her children: Janet (Charles) Scott of Bloomington, David (Lil) Sylvester of Hankinson, ND, Harlan Sylvester of Minneapolis, Leona Garrett of Overland Park, KS and Loretta (Dan) Lose of Bruceton, WV; ten grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren and one brother: Emil (Catherine) Bruzek of Alexandria. She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents and one brother: Paul Bruzek.



Pallbearers for the service are Camille's grandsons: Christopher Garrett, Paul Scott, Rodney Sylvester, John Sylvester, Steven Sylvester and Dale Morris. Honorary pallbearers are Camille's granddaughters: Lisa Scott, Connie Rahbin and Susan Gilles and all of Camille's great-great-grandchildren. Amy Rooney will serve as organist for the service with Sylvia Gunderson serving as soloist. Starbuck Funeral Home in Starbuck is in charge of the arrangements.