Saratoga Springs, NY - Sylvia Josephine (Gaus) Oleksak, formerly of Lake Avenue, passed away Wednesday (Nov. 3, 2010) at the Wesley Health Care Center, where she resided for the past two years on the Alzheimers floor. Born on Sept. 9, 1920 in Brooklyn, NY, as the only child of Sylvia Andreas and Walter Irving Gaus, she moved to Upper Montclair, NJ, as a young child. Graduating Phi Beta Kappa in 1942 from Barnard College of Columbia University, Sylvia worked in estate planning and trusts, for several banks and financial institutions over many years. She also had her own Tax Consulting business, which she sold upon retirement. After retiring from Sullivan & Cromwell, LLP Law Firm on Wall Street in 1987, she moved to Saratoga Springs to be closer to her only child, Patricia (Oleksak) Izzo, and son-in-law, Dr. Brian Izzo, and their family. She enjoyed spending time with her four grandchildren, Joshua, Jessica, Sarah and Timothy. In her quiet, unassuming manner, Sylvia reached out to involve herself in her new community. Her volunteerism was extensive. She first became secretary of the Saratoga Springs Historical Society; then co-president of the area chapter of the American Association of the University of Women. She helped on a regular basis at The Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation, the Saratoga County Arts Council, the Urban Cultural Heritage Area Headquarters, the Brookside Museum in Ballston Spa and numerous other community not-for-profit organizations. She attended many retreats and also enjoyed working with the Retreat Program at St. Clements Church. Keeping active, she regularly audited a wide variety of classes at Skidmore College, finding many new friends. She frequently traveled to Ghost Ranch in New Mexico, where she took courses in Native American studies. Sylvia loved the northwest, especially Santa Fe, New Mexico and Alaska, frequently vacationing there. Hiking the Grand Canyon, rafting the Colorado, Snake, and Green Rivers, and exploring the ghost towns of the west filled her life with adventure. Sylvia also spent several weeks in China, as the Asian culture deeply interested her. Some of her fondest memories, though, came from spending time in Rockport, Massachusetts with her family, on their annual summer vacation. She was a woman with diverse interests, into which she delved with great passion. Her home was a library; walls lined with books, most of which she had read, frequently accompanied by her cat. Her sunroom was filled with cacti, succulents, and other houseplants. She loved outdoor gardening, as well as hiking with the Saratoga Striders in the State Park. Sylvia gave generously of herself, preferring to spend time with her daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren, whom she deeply loved. She will be forever missed by her family, as well as her devoted friend and caretaker, Helene Mitchell. Sincere thanks are extended to Trudy Cholewinski, Director of the Alzheimers floor at Wesley, as well as the wonderfully caring staff of Victoria 2, who enriched Sylvias life with music, games, activities, and outings. The staff patiently attended to her on a daily basis during these last declining years. She greeted them with a smile and saw them as her friends. Relatives and friends may call from 2 to 4 pm Sunday (Nov. 7, 2010) at the William J. Burke & Sons/Bussing & Cunniff Funeral Homes, 628 North Broadway 584-5373. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9:30am Monday in St. Clements Church, 231 Lake Avenue. Burial will follow in St. Peters Cemetery, West Ave. Memorials may be made in her name to St. Clements Church, 231 Lake Ave., Wesley Health Care Center, 131 Lawrence St., Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 or to the Alzheimers Association, 85 Watervliet Ave., Albany, NY 12206. Online remembrances may be made at www.burkefuneralhome.com.