Elta C. Syverson

Elta Christine (Johnson) Syverson, 98, went to be with the Lord on November 28, 2015.  Elta was born on June 21, 1917 and lived most of her life in Massachusetts. She graduated from Quincy (MA) High School.  Elta studied piano with a Boston Conservatory professor and taught herself to play the organ, practicing at a nearby church through her teenage years.  As an adult, she was a well-known organist and pianist, playing in many churches In New England for over 70 years as well as serving as the organist and choir director first at the Roxbury Evangelical Free church and then at the Westwood Evangelical Free Church, followed by the Norwood Baptist Church, for over 50 years.  She was the organist at Christ Chapel in Centerville and played at Evangelical Baptist Church in South Yarmouth during her retirement on Cape Cod in the 1990’s.  Elta taught piano lessons to dozens of children over a span of 25 years, sharing her love of playing and inspiring many to pursue music throughout their own lives.

Elta received Jesus Christ as her personal Savior at an early age and served faithfully in the church throughout her life.  She met her future husband, J. Evan Syverson, while she was the pianist and he was the soloist at Dover Street Mission in Boston.  They married on December 30, 1939, and lived in the Boston area.  In 1952 they purchased the Syverson homestead in Norwood where they raised their six children.  They enjoyed 52 wonderful years of marriage until Evan’s death in 1992.

Along with her amazing musical talents, Elta was a talented floral designer, fabulous cook and adept program/event planner and implementer.  She was very active in many organizations and activities such as the Gideons in New England and served a term as president  of the Gideon’s Women’s Auxiliary in MA and RI.  Christian Women’s Club of New England was also an area in which she volunteered her time and talents, planning and implementing monthly programs for over 10 years.  Elta volunteered with the Salvation Army for many years, playing at various services of that organization on a regular basis for many years.  Another place that was dear to her heart and at which she volunteered was Children’s Haven, still open in Worcester, MA.  She also shared her talents of music and cooking at Christian summer camps (Camp Rumney, Rumney, NH, Camp Tispaquin, Middleboro, MA and Word of Life Camp, Schroon Lake, NY) and women’s retreats at many of these same camps for over 20 years.

Survivors include her sons, Philip Syverson of Wrentham, MA, Donald Syverson and wife, Dana, of Wrentham, MA and Roger Syverson and wife, Diana, of Franklin, MA and daughters Cheryl Cochran and husband, Edward, of E. Sandwich, MA, Jean Wennerstrom and husband, Bruce, of Chelmsford, MA and Virginia Baker and husband, Bradley, of Libertyville, IL; sister Doris Wolters of Tucson, AZ; eight grandchildren, fourteen great-grandchildren; and many devoted nieces, nephews and cousins.  She was predeceased by her husband Evan of 52 years, and her grandson, Erik Wennerstrom.

A service of celebration will be at Emmanuel Baptist Church, 63 Rockwood Rd., Norfolk, MA on December 17, 2015 at 11:00 a.m.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Gideons International, P.O. Box 919, Barnstable, MA 02630 .