Sylvia Ioas
Sylvia Ioas | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | September 19, 1895 Chicago, Illinois, USA |
| Died | August 24, 1983 |
| IBC member | 1955 - 1963 |
| Spouse(s) | Leroy Ioas |
Sylvia Kuhlman Ioas (September 19, 1895 - August 24, 1983) was a member of the International Bahá’í Council serving as both an elected and appointed member. She served for a time as the council's Vice-President. Her husband was a Hand of the Cause, Leroy Ioas.
Biography[edit]
Ioas was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1895 to a Czech mother and German father from Munich. She was introduced to the Bahá’í Faith by Leroy Ioas who she married in Chicago in 1919 and her family also became Bahá’ís shortly after their marriage.[1]
After marrying the Ioases moved to San Francisco, California, where she supported her husbands teaching work and they had two daughters. In 1946 they moved to Chicago as Leroy had a promotion with work and they settled in Wilmette near the House of Worship where Sylvia was able to serve as a temple guide. When Leroy was appointed as a Hand of the Cause in 1951 she received the cable and telephoned him at work to inform him of his appointment.[1] The following year Shoghi Effendi summoned Leroy to the Holy Land to serve on the International Bahá’í Council and Sylvia encouraged him to accept the appointment and make the move and she remained for a time in America after he departed to give away many of their possessions before also moving to Haifa.[2]
While living in Haifa Ioas assisted with the cleaning of the Shrines, helped run the pilgrims' house and served as a guide for pilgrims visiting the Holy Land. She was often in the presence of Shoghi Effendi and in May 1955 he appointed her to the International Bahá’í Council. After the passing of Shoghi Effendi the Hands of the Cause decided to make the Council an elected body in 1961 and Ioas was elected to the Council. In 1963 the Council was disbanded when the Universal House of Justice was established and she attended the Bahá’í World Congress in London that year.[3] Leroy fell ill with pneumonia in 1963 and Sylvia cared for him as they made extensive teaching trips over the next two years while his physical condition deteriorated and he passed away in 1965.[3]
After Leroy's passing Ioas lived in Wilmette in the company of friends and served on the Local Spiritual Assembly. In 1968 she moved to Alexandria, Virginia, where she had grandchildren and she served on the Local Spiritual Assembly of Alexandria for ten years and participated in teaching projects. She also traveled abroad participating in summer schools and conferences. In the 1970's she was able to return to the Holy Land on pilgrimage with her family. She passed away in 1983 and was buried in Washington, D.C., next to her daughter Farrukh.[3]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1994). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 19 (1983-1986), Pg(s) 611. View as PDF.
- ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1994). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 19 (1983-1986), Pg(s) 612. View as PDF.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1994). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 19 (1983-1986), Pg(s) 613. View as PDF.
