Sylvia E Mazur

Sylvia Ysabel Espinoza born in Nogales, Arizona, on May 24, 1936, to Jesusita (Jessie) Berrellez & Francisco Espinoza passed away peacefully on June 19, 2018 at Holy Cross Hospital in Nogales, Arizona, surrounded by her loving family.

Sylvia graduated from Nogales High School in 1954. After graduation, she went on to attend St. Mary’s School of Nursing in Tucson, Arizona, graduating with honors in 1957 as a Registered Nurse. Upon graduation, Sylvia’s wanderlust and sense of adventure, coupled with her desire to not only serve others, but also her country, would lead her to enlist in the United States Navy. After a training stint in Long Island, New York, she was assigned to Camp Pendleton in San Diego, CA, and would serve honorably from 1957- 1960, retiring from active military service and would continue as a naval reservist for a number of years after that. It is rumored that she got a kick out of needling her younger brother Peter (also enlisted in the Navy), by reminding him that she outranked him and he would need to salute her.

After being discharged from the Navy, Sylvia would move to Oakland, California, where she began her long career as a pediatric nurse, working with terminally ill children at Oakland Children’s Hospital. Her love and compassion for these children, together with her high standards and innate organizational skills, would move her into an administrative position; a position she accepted, but one that would prove most difficult for her, one that kept her away from what she loved most, which was working hands on with patients. After almost 25 years, she would decide to retire, moving back to Tucson in 1986 to be closer to family.

Finding it difficult to stay away, Sylvia returned briefly to nursing at Tucson Medical Center and El Rio Community Health, finally retiring for good to enjoy the things she loved. She was an avid reader, especially about history; gardening, completing crossword puzzles, always learning new things, traveling with friends and hosting weekend get-togethers for family and friends. However, caring was in her blood and she once again found herself as a caregiver, caring for a young neighbor who was terminally ill. It was during this time that she would meet her patient’s father, a wonderful man with whom she fell in love and would eventually marry. Sylvia and Peter Mazur were happily married on January 18, 2003. Peter and she would continue to enjoy traveling together until his death in 2007.

Sylvia was a very generous, kind and fiercely independent woman, soft-spoken with a wry sense of humor who loved her family and friends dearly. She will be lovingly missed by all who knew her, including her beloved 4-legged companion, Dusty.

Sylvia is preceded in death by her parents and her brother Peter Espinoza. She is survived by her loving sister Delfina ‘Pina’ Bauch (Paul O’Hagin), nephew Frank (Lisa) Espinoza, nieces Eileen Gonzales, Jennifer Huerta, Susie (Daniel) Gant, Ellie (Henry) Rodriguez and Felice Espinoza, as well as many grand/great nephews & nieces.

Memorial Services for Sylvia will be held at Sacred Heart Parish in Nogales, Arizona, on Friday, June 29, 2018, beginning with visitation at 1:30 p.m., followed by a recitation of the Rosary at 2:00 p.m. and Mass immediately following at 2:30 p.m. A military honor guard presentation will follow at the conclusion of Mass. Services entrusted to Martinez Funeral Chapels – Nogales.