Obituary - RIVA (LYONE) SOROKURS

On Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021, Riva (Lyone) Sorokurs passed away in Dunedin, Fla. 

Born to William Lyone and his wife, Sophie (Rosenbloom) Lyone, Riva Lyone grew up in St. Paul and attended the University of Minnesota. She married Stan Sorokurs in 1958 and they had three children.  In 1970, the family moved from the Twin Cities to Winter Park, Fla., and in 2013, Riva moved to Dunedin, Fla. She had many jobs but her favorite was nursery school teacher. She loved when her former students came up for hugs, sometimes 30 years after she'd last held them on her lap. 

Riva was involved in Jewish Genealogy, and knew the history of her family going back 4 and 5 generations. She enjoyed reading, and keeping up with current events. She loved cats. Strays always knew her address. 

Riva was preceded in death by her parents, Bill and Sophie Lyone; her beloved aunt and uncle, Nettie & Mike Pred; her ex-husband, Stanley Sorokurs; and her cousin, Norman Pred. 

She is survived by her three children, Julie (Chris) Hart, Mark (Jill) Sorokurs, and Zevi (Tamar) Gal-Sarai; and seven grandchildren - Noiya Gal Sarai, Yadean Gal Sarai, Nathan Sorokurs, Abigail Sorokurs, Chris Gustafson, Joe Gustafson, and Nick Gustafson. She is also survived by her beloved younger sister, Marissa Lyone Levine Apolinsky; and her cousins, Ray (Gwen) Pred and Gordon Pred. Riva will be missed by her nieces and nephews, great nieces and great nephews, and many loving friends and relations.  

There was a graveside service at Curlew Hills Memory Gardens in Palm Harbor, Fla.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to JewishGen.org or to the Humane Society of Pinellas.