Former Tic Toc waitress from Jeannette loved travel, family

Joan Silvis worked as a waitress in the Tic Toc Restaurant in Kaufmann’s at the Westmoreland Mall from the day it opened until the day it closed, and when she was working, she was all business.

That is, until the day her longtime friend, Jackie Chandler of Greensburg, sent a gorilla to the restaurant.

“There was a company that sent people dressed in animal costumes, and one year for her birthday, I hired a big gorilla to go out to Kaufmann’s,” Chandler said. “She just about pooped, she was so surprised, and we laughed for years about it.”

Joan L. (Danser) Silvis of Jeannette died Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2019, after battling multiple sclerosis and cancer. She was 71.

Mrs. Silvis was born March 2, 1948, in Greensburg, a daughter of the late William and Naomi (Ankney) Danser.

She grew up in Youngwood and graduated from Hempfield Area High School.

Chandler had known Mrs. Silvis since the two were in sixth grade at New Stanton Elementary School.

“She was a card,” Chandler said. “She loved to travel, and she lived for the Bahamas.”

Every Columbus Day, the Silvis family would take the trip to the Caribbean islands.

“They talked us into going down one year, and we loved it as much as they did,” Chandler said.

Mrs. Silvis met her husband of 52 years, Jacob Silvis III, at Eat’n Park, when both met with friends to grab a bite to eat.

The couple was married Nov. 4, 1966.

“She was a friendly person, and could make a friend out of just about everyone,” Mr. Silvis said.

“She was the glue that would pull everyone together,” said her son, Jacob Silvis IV of Greensburg. “My sister has a learning disability and has attended Clelian Heights School for many years. One thing was certain: Mom was always there for us when we needed her.”

Chandler said Mrs. Silvis was also very fond of her family’s dogs.

“She had a little white dog, Candy, years ago, and she just loved that dog. She loved her son’s dogs as well — those were her other ‘grandchildren,’ ” Chandler said. “No one came before the dogs.”

In addition, no one was to call her “Mrs. Silvis.”

“I remember my buddies calling her that and she say, ‘No! It’s Joan!” her son said.

Joan Silvis is survived by her husband, Jacob H. Silvis III; her son, Jacob H. Silvis IV and wife Jenifer, of Greensburg; daughter, Amy J. Silvis, at home and Clelian Heights; two grandchildren, Lily Silvis and Jacob H. Silvis V; her sister, Cheryl Danser Boggs and husband Charles, of Delmont; Jay Stets-Stephensky and wife Melissa, of Wisconsin; and several nieces and nephews.

Friends and family will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m., Sunday at the Leo M. Bacha Funeral Home, 516 Stanton St., Greensburg. Additional visitation will be at 10 a.m., Monday at Harrold Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Greensburg, where an 11 a.m. funeral service will take place.

Interment will follow in Harrold’s Church Cemetery.

Memoral contributions can be made to Clelian Heights, 135 Clelian Heights Lane, Greensburg, Pa., 15601.