Doris Carlene Sygitowicz Myers, 70, a longtime Sedro-Woolley resident, passed away at her home surrounded by her loving family on Wednesday, August 27, 2008 after a battle with brain cancer.
Carlene was born on December 20, 1937 in Seattle, Washington, the daughter of Jack & Laura Knupp Myers.
She was raised and attended grade school in Seattle until the family moved to Van Zandt in Whatcom County in 1949. She then attended and graduated from Mount Baker High School in 1955. Later that year she was united in marriage to Bruce Thomas Prendergast and they lived in several communities as Bruce was in the Air Force.
In 1968 they settled in Rancho Palos Verdes, California where they raised their family. Carlene also attended California State University at Dominguez Hills where she earned a Masters Degree in Sociology.
Carlene worked as a hospital administrator in California for several years until moving to Skagit County in 1981 where she worked as a Health Care Administrator.
She married Stan Sygitowicz in 1981 and they made their home in Sedro-Woolley. Carlene worked as the Sedro-Woolley City
Clerk- Treasurer for many years, leaving that position in 1994 to be a hospital administrator in Centralia, WA. She retired in 1997.
Carlene was a member of Soroptimist International, Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Sedro-Woolley and was a founding member of C.A.T.H.Y., Community Assistance to Homeless Youngsters in California.
Carlene enjoyed traveling the world; she had an infectious sense for learning; she enjoyed a good crossword puzzle, reading, gardening and listening and playing music.
She is survived by her children, Laurie Fellers and her husband, Keith of Sedro-Woolley, Dr. Michael Prendergast and his wife, Madeleine of Carlisle, Massachusetts and Kevin Prender of Sedro-Woolley. Six grandchildren, Allen Slone, Jason Bennett, Keara Fellers, Cherie Nichole Prender, Jaramy Chism and Charlotte Prender; three nieces, Marina, Clarina and Natasha Czapszys and one nephew, Andrej Czapszys. Her former husband, Stan Sygitowicz of Sedro-Woolley and special friend, Warren Gage of Stanwood. She was preceded in death by her parents, and one sister, Margery Louise Myers Czapszys.
A Funeral Mass will be held at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Sedro-Woolley on Tuesday, September 2, 2008 at 11:00 A.M. with Father Martin Bourke Celebrant. Private inurnment will be at the Sedro-Woolley Union Cemetery.
The family suggests that memorials be made to the Music Therapy Fund at United General Hospital, so that the music may play on.
Cremation arrangements and services under the direction of Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley.