Sylvia Marie Boback

Sylvia Marie Boback, 87, formerly of Monroe Township, NJ entered eternal rest Tuesday, August 24, 2021. She was born in Wilkes-Barre, PA to Michael and Katherine (Krawchak) Boback. She attended Coughlin High School and graduated from College Misericordia in 1956. Her parents preceded her in death, as did her sisters Catherine Eardenberger and Sister Madeline Boback, OSBM, and brother-in-law Bernard Eardenberger. Sylvia married the late Paul T. McCaffrey of Kingston, PA and they moved to New Jersey where she lived until 2020. They raised their three children in Dunellen, NJ. Her children, Martin McCaffrey, Karen Kayoumi (Anthony Stone), and Alan McCaffrey (Veronica), survive Sylvia. Her beloved grandchildren, Jamie Covington (Neil), Kei, Alexander, Michael, Stephen (Amy) and Andrew McCaffrey, and great-grandson Tilghman also survive her, as do her niece Ann Bonavita and grandnieces. Sylvia was an active member of Queenship of Mary Catholic Church in Plainsboro, NJ for nearly 20 years, serving in various ministries. Sylvia had a long career as a computer programmer for Bell Labs (later Bellcore and Telcordia), retiring in 1997. Following her retirement, she enjoyed world and local travel, trips to NYC to see a show, needlework, Jeopardy every night at 7 and socializing with her friends. An avid reader, Sylvia kept a log of all the books she had read and was especially drawn to women’s history and books written by women. Not surprising, Sylvia was a staunch feminist. Sylvia was very active with the American Association of University Women (AAUW) on both a local and state (NJ) level. She started a branch of AAUW at Rossmoor in Monroe Twp. Sylvia served in many leadership roles in AAUW of New Jersey and was part of the inaugural planning for the organization’s successful TeenTech program. Today TeenTech serves as AAUW’s cornerstone program, informing young women about valuable STEM job opportunities that can ultimately help close the pay gap between men and women and increase equality in the workforce. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in her memory to Sisters of the Order of St. Basil the Great, 500 West Main Street, Uniontown, PA 15401 or AAUW of New Jersey. Her funeral will be held at St. Mary’s Byzantine Catholic Church in Wilkes-Barre, PA. Sylvia was a member of St. Mary’s until she married and moved to New Jersey in 1956. The family will receive visitors at the church at 11 am on Monday, August 30, 2021. And the divine liturgy will begin at 11:30. While there are no COVID restrictions at this time, the family understands if you wish to remember Sylvia privately in a way that celebrates your friendship with her.