It has been a few weeks since EKU Libraries lost a staff member. Sylvia Genest worked as the Team Leader for Catalog Maintenance. Not only was she good at her job but she was an outstanding person. I have never worked in a place where someone has passed away and so this was a totally new experience for me. Sylvia's passing was completely unexpected and shocking. I think that most of just did not know what to say or do for quite a while. I do want to share a story about Sylvia that I thought speaks directly to Sylvia's kindness and thoughtfulness.
I had my daughter DC in March of 2005. I returned to work at EKU in June and was having a difficult time making the transition back into the work world after being on maternity leave for 3 months. I had not had such a hard time after having TPG so it was a shock to me that I was having such a hard time. I just could not seem to get back in the game. Just a few days after returning to work, Sylvia brought me a little plastic bag and it contained a cute little pair children's sneakers. She said she had seen them at a yard sale over the weekend and just knew DC had to have them. Sylvia and I did not work in the same department and did not really work that closely together. Sylvia's personal life was a full and rich one filled with many family members. The fact that she thought of me and my daughter was so touching. This simple little gift was exactly what I needed to help me through whatever moment I was having.
I went home immediately and put the little shoes on DC. Of course, they were WAY TOO BIG but I had to take a picture of them for Sylvia. This picture hung in Sylvia's cubicle for quite some time. Sometimes I would find myself walking out of my way past Sylvia's desk just so I could spot a picture of my daughter. 
Thank you Sylvia for your kind gift. You will be missed.
