With sorrow and deep gratitude, the Stryk, Havel and Kyle families announce the passing of our tenacious, fearless and loving mother, sister, aunt, and friend, Van Havel Stryk, on March 2. Van and her siblings, Bob, Bill and Carol, were born and raised in Lorain, Ohio. After graduating from Ohio University with a degree in journalism, she moved to Portsmouth as a reporter for the local newspaper. From escorting Ohio students to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., to covering local interest stories, she excelled in a field where women were few.
In 1955, she married Daniel Stryk, with whom she shared a desire to see the world. Dan’s work transferred them from Ohio to Indonesia to Turkey to Michigan (where they celebrated the birth of their daughter, Dana) to Kansas before finally landing in Fayetteville, N.C., in 1969. In Fayetteville, she accidentally discovered a new profession – teaching. She started as a substitute teacher at St. Patrick School in 1970, retiring more than 15 years later. Many former fourth-grade students would see her at church and ask, “Mrs. Stryk. Mrs. Stryk. Do you remember me?” She would look at the now over 6-foot-tall, balding gentleman and say, “Why yes, I do.”
Her greatest passion was travel. After Dan retired, they started traveling. First a cruise around the world. Then off to Northwest Canada, down the California coast, Maine, the Great Wall of China, most rivers in Europe, and a cruise along the coast of South America. They had a ball, and their passports needed extra pages. They adopted and edited the phrase "carpe diem" to "carpe momentum" and tried to stop and smell the roses along the way.
After Dan died almost two decades ago, she continued collecting frequent-flyer miles. She traveled back to Africa for two safaris in her 80s, went on every river cruise offered in Europe, took a small riverboat down the Amazon, and followed the path of the Vikings (but on a much better ship). The only continent to which she did not travel was Antarctica.
Her local community was also important. Through her decades as a resident of Fayetteville, she volunteered at many organizations such as the Museum of the Cape Fear and the Care Clinic. Van was a founding member of the Clairway Garden Club and greatly enjoyed working with the Women’s Giving Circle to better her community. At St. Patrick Church, she chaired and served on many committees, including Parish Council, the Columbarium and New Church/Building committees.
Van was preceded in death by her husband, Daniel, and brothers, Robert Havel and William Havel. She is survived by her daughter, Dr. Dana Stryk, son-in-law, retired Lt. Col. Charles Kyle; sister, Carol Dadosky,;stepgranddaughters Brynne Kyle-Steigerwalt and Shannyn Kyle; and numerous nieces and nephews, all of whom had a special place in her heart. She had a wonderful group of friends in the Fayetteville area for whom she enjoyed finding the perfect travel trinket while on her international adventures.
To celebrate our beloved friend, mom, aunt, sister, and neighbor, please join us on March 16 at St. Patrick Church, Fayetteville, N.C. Visitation in the Holy Family Room begins at 10 a.m. The funeral mass begins at 11 a.m..
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St. Patrick School Scholarship Fund (https://www.wesharegiving.org/app/giving/WeShare-1876?tab=home At the bottom under “all events” is the icon for “support a St. Patrick Student”)
