The legacy of Jim Syversen

Below is the obituary for Jim Syversen, who was diagnosed with terminal cancer in the late spring/early summer, and died on August 15th. His wake and funeral last Friday and Saturday were really celebratory events.

Jim was a familiar face in Operation Rescue pro-life circles in the late eighties and early nineties. Both he and wife Carol were arrested and we are told, but cannot confirm, that all twelve of their children were also arrested at one time or another, protesting at abortion chambers. If true, this would probably be some sort of family record! One of his sons said that when he suggested a couple of months ago that Jim contact his friends he said, "All of my friends are dead - except for the prolifers."

Well, the prolifers were all there at the wake and funeral.

Jim and Carol have 75 grandchildren (including the two on the way), so we can say with great confidence that in a couple of generations the eastern seaboard will be prolife. On the back of the prayer card at his wake was the prayer of St. Gertrude the Great, "which he taught to his children and grandchildren."

Anyone who may have some digitized pictures of Jim or family members, please email them to us and we will post them. We will have more on Jim in the next issue of LifeNet.

Here is Jim's complete obituary:

STANFORDVILLE - Hjalmar Syversen, III, 79, of Stanfordville, NY, died Wednesday, August 15, 2007 at home surrounded by his loving wife and family. Mr. Syversen, also known as Jim, battled cancer. He was born March 21, 1928 in Mt. Vernon, NY, grew up in Rye, NY and was an alumnus of Rye High School, Merchant Marine Academy and Packard College. He was the son of the late Hjalmar Syversen II, an Olympic ski jumper from Norway, and Eleanor May Syversen. Mr. Syversen, a member of the New York Stock Exchange, was with Hayden Stone and Cadden and Company. In later years, he and his son Hjalmar IV, formed H. Syversen and Co. in New Milford, CT. He was dedicated to the Pro Life movement; as an active member of Operation Rescue, he was a champion of the unborn. On July 1, 1950, Jim married Carol Mary Combs in Larchmont, NY. She is the daughter of the late Colonel William H. Combs, distinguished WW-II hero and Anthonette Maddox Combs. In addition to his wife, Mr. Syversen is survived by his 12 children; sons, Hjalmar IV of Irvington, VA, Leif of Spring, TX, Michael of Marblehead, MA, Erik of Stanfordville, NY, Robert of Hudson Falls, NY, and Dag of New Boston, NH; daughters, Cynthia Bombeck of Eagle River, AK, Colleen Herlihy of Front Royal, VA, Kim Lizotte of Auburn, NH, Anthonette Whittaker of White Post, VA, Angelique O'Reilly of Front Royal, VA, and Caroline Syversen of Stanfordville, NY; 73 grandchildren; and 8 great grandchildren. In the 1980's the Syversens opened their home to four Vietnamese young men after they made a heroic trip to freedom. Sang and Tung Van Lee, Anh Viet Ho and Thanh Van Huynh thrived in their new country. Visitation will be Friday, August 17 from 3-5 and 7-9 pm at Allen Funeral Home, 3270 Franklin Ave., Millbrook. A Requiem Mass will be held Saturday, 9 am from St. Joseph's Church, North Ave., Millbrook. Interment will follow in St. Joseph's Cemetery, Millbrook. Memorial donations may be made in Jim's memory to Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary, c/o Priestly Order of St. Peter FSSP, P.O. Box 196, Elmhurst, PA, 18416. If you would like to send the family a condolence and for guestbook and directions, please visit www.HudsonValleyFuneralHomes.com.

Comments

[tee]

a good and faithful servant, and well loved by his family. what more could we ask for in this life.

[Theresa]

Wish I had known about this. Jim was in Valhalla with me in the late 80's!

and of course, I know the Herlihy's and Dag.

If you have an address please pass it on. I would like to send my condolences.

Makes complete sense that he would die on the 15th..I am sure Our Lady escorted him to heaven! Great man!

[Geraldine Forstrom]

Remember Jim and Carol as familiar faces at Operation Rescue attempts to save lives! Later had the pleasure of meeting Colleen and attending her wedding with Tommy Herlihy; both great prolife heros as well! My sincerest condolences and prayers are with the Syversen family! Sorry I could not attend the services due to a family emergency. Love and prayers, Gerry F.

[Richard Maddox Combs II]

I have a great digital picture of my Uncle Jim Syverson from 2005 and would be glad to share it. Please send information so I can email it to the appropriate person.

Richard Maddox Combs II