Sylvia Smith Hronek Obituary (1936

Sylvia Smith Hronek returned to her heavenly home on November 10, 2021, following a battle with cancer. Her husband, five children, 17 grandchildren, and 19 great-grandchildren have been blessed across years and decades by Sylvia’s immense love, constant service, and peaceful spirit. She will be sorely missed. Sylvia was born on October 9, 1936 to David Lamont Smith and Martha May Lusk, the third of five children, in Rexburg, Idaho. Her childhood during depression and war years in Sugar City, Idaho was filled with family industry, gardening, babysitting, sewing, and economizing. She loved music and had a beautiful voice. Nothing seemed to please her more than family members playing or singing around a piano. She has fond memories of her high school experiences and excelled as a student at Idaho State University where she sang in many choirs. She earned a bachelor’s degree in home economics education, regularly making the dean’s list. On June 12, 1958, Sylvia married her high school sweetheart, Bruce B. Hronek, in the Idaho Falls Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Bruce’s military service and career in the Forest Service took Sylvia and the Hronek family back and forth across America including living experiences in Oklahoma, Georgia, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Virginia, and Wisconsin. Move after move, child after child, Sylvia made dear friends, created and re-created comfortable homes, and did everything in her power to nurture and care for her children. A professorship at Indiana University led the family to a 27-year stay in beloved Bloomington, Indiana. Sylvia was able to travel extensively before moving close to family in Provo Canyon in 2016. Throughout her life, Sylvia was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; she devoted herself to faith and family and held many callings. She especially enjoyed serving children. Everything in her life focused on her husband, her five children, the grandchildren, and great-grandchildren that followed. Built from love, service, sacrifice, and gospel devotion, her family was her “greatest accomplishment”. Each new baby was cuddled and rocked with love. All children felt her confidence and interest in them as individuals. Every family member respects and feels a debt of gratitude for Sylvia’s life, fully consecrated to family and faith. Sylvia was preceded in death by her parents, older brother, and sisters. She is survived by her husband, Bruce B. Hronek; her five children, Denise (Ed) Diehl, Alice (Craig) Donaldson, Sheila Alt, Steven (Tomoko) Hronek, and April Dorris. A funeral service will be held in her honor at 11:00 a.m., Friday, November 19, 2021 in the Wallsburg 1st Ward Chapel, 494 West Main Canyon Road, Wallsburg, Utah 84082. Family members will greet visitors from 10-10:45 a.m. Sylvia will be buried in the Mountain View Cemetery in Pocatello, Idaho on the following day. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.bergmortuary.com.