Sylvia Ruth Major

Sylvia Ruth Major peacefully passed away, surrounded by family, on July 4, 2022 at the age of 84. She was born on November 1, 1937. Sylvia was a native of Ventress, Louisiana and a resident of New Orleans and Metairie, Louisiana since 1938. Sylvia is survived by sister, Joan Major Romig. Also survived by nephews Charles Anthony Major (Debra), Marcel Edward Letellier, Jr. (Kelli), Steven Joseph Letellier (Carolyn) and Ronald Gerard Letellier.  Nieces Julie Gambino Armstrong (Jay) and Jeanie Gambino Decuers.  Grandniece, Jennifer Marie Armstrong (Ben Kellie), grand nephews, Jonathan Ryan Armstrong and Mason Edward Letellier and great grandnephew, Jack Kellie. Preceded in death by her parents, Joseph Linton and Ruth Robillard Major and a brother, Charles Alfred Major. Sylvia was a member of the Dominican Nuns of St. Mary’s Congregation for 26 years. While in the congregation, she taught at St. Peter’s School in Reserve, LA, St. Leo the Great School in New Orleans and taught and served as principal of Lizana Elementary School in Gulfport, MS.  Sylvia returned to New Orleans in 1967 to serve as principal of St. Matthias School. In 1972, she became an Assistant Professor of Education then Registrar of St. Mary’s Dominican College. In 1978, she was named the founding principal of St. Charles Catholic High School in La Place, LA.  After resigning from St. Mary’s Congregation, Sylvia joined Tulane University, serving as Assistant to the Registrar, then later as Assistant Dean in the Evening Division. In 1998, she moved to the Tulane University School of Medicine where she served as Program Coordinator then Special Assistant to the Dean until her retirement in 2006. Sylvia’s past memberships include the New Orleans Archdiocesan School Board, the Southern Association Accreditation Commission for Elementary Schools, teachers’ and principals’ associations both local and national, the Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society and the Bonnabel Civic Association. At the time of her death, she was an organizing and charter member of the Oliver Pollock Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution serving first as Chaplain then later as 1st Vice Regent, 2nd Vice Regent, Recording Secretary and Parliamentarian. She was named the 1998 Distinguished Graduate of St. Anthony of Padua School in New Orleans, where she received her elementary education.  She was an alumna of St. Mary’s Dominican High School (’55), received a Bachelor of Science degree from St. Mary’s Dominican College (’59) and received a Master of Arts Degree from the University of Detroit (’67). Sylvia was a member of St. Angela Merici’s Catholic Church in Metairie. Her special interests were genealogy and compiling her family tree and reading especially biographies, history and mystery novels.

Family and friends, members of the Dominican Sisters of Peace, (formerly the Congregation of St. Mary) and Whitney Place residents are invited to attend the Mass of Christian Burial at 12:15 PM on Saturday, July 9, 2022 at St. Angela Merici Church, 901 Beverly Garden Drive, Metairie, Louisiana.  Visitation at the church will begin at 10:30 AM. Interment will be in Cypress Grove Cemetery in New Orleans, Louisiana. In lieu of flowers, consider donations to your favorite charity.

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