Sylvia L. Shrauger

Sylvia L. (Young) Shrauger of Royal Oak, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend, passed away peacefully on June 19, 2026. She lived to be 88 years old. She was predeceased in 2018 by her husband of 40 years, P. Robert ("Bob") Shrauger. Born with a warm, down-to-earth spirit, Sylvia touched countless lives with her kindness, humor, and steady caring presence. 

A devoted partner to Bob, they loved hosting friends and family at their Wampler's Lake cottage and then later in their Pentwater Lake home. (Sylvia counted swimming in the lake, ocean, or any pool among her greatest joys!) An early adopter of healthy living and new ideas, she embraced vegetarianism, jogging, yoga, and meditation long before they were commonplace. She was a lifelong learner, social worker, pianist, restaurant owner, feminist, and tireless advocate for peace, social justice, and inclusion. Sylvia believed in welcoming others and empowering women, and she lived with a "Why can't I?" ambition that inspired those around her. 

Sylvia's compassion extended to animals and everyone she met; she made people feel at ease and gave generously of her time and spirit. Though naturally calm, she was unafraid to stand firm when needed--a quality she referred to as her "few stubborn ounces." 

Sylvia leaves behind three children, sons Kenneth R. Joy and Richard Scott Joy, and daughter Karen L. Joy; two stepsons, Steven Shrauger and Thomas D. Lincoln; and grandchildren Sonya Rocheleau (Roger), Vanessa Law, Joshua Joy, Jordan Joy, Carson Joy, and Jayden Joy, Toni VanKampen, Thomas R. Lincoln, and Tabitha Lincoln, as well as four great-grandchildren. Also left to cherish her memory are sisters-in-law Virginia L. Young, Mary Salij, and Mary Jane Shrauger, and many beloved nieces and nephews.

A Memorial Service for Sylvia will be held later this summer at Northminster Presbyterian Church in Troy (https://troynorthminster.weebly.com/calendar.html).

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Michigan Humane Society https://www.michiganhumane.org/tributes/ or the ASPCA https://www.aspca.org/ways-to-give or Northminster Presbyterian Church https://troynorthminster.weebly.com/.