Sylvia was born on 22 Sep 1896, in Czernowitz, Romania, the daughter of Clara and Nuchem. Then known as Sabina, she immigrated to the United States, arriving with her mother and three siblings on January 2, 1921.858 She married Bernard MITTMAN on October 25, 1925. By 1923, she was documented using the name Sylvia.859 Her name change from Sabina to Sylvia became legal with her petition for naturalization, or “second papers,” in 1937.283 Sylvia and Bernard had three children during their marriage. She died on May 25, 1965, in Chicago, Illinois, at 68.

According to her son, Charles MITTMAN, Sylvia Mittman was very sensitive about being older than her husband. “Growing up, we were repeatedly urged never to ‘reveal to the neighbors that she was two years older than my father.’ Now we find out she was almost five years older; I can understand her sensitivity, but did it really matter?” The concern may have stemmed from concern over her not getting married until her mid-20s.863

See Naturalization Records for more information about how an alien becomes an American citizen.