Sylvia Gloria ‘Babe’ Martoglio

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(Oct. 17, 1926 - Dec. 19, 2013)

Sylvia Gloria “Babe” Martoglio, of Cody, died peacefully at home on Dec. 19, 2013. She was 87.

Babe was born Oct. 17, 1926, in Fromberg, Mont., to William and Mary Apostolou. She went to school in Fromberg until her family moved to Cody, where she graduated from Cody High School in 1946.

In the summer of 1946, she was up at the Diamond Bar Ranch staying with her dear friends Lucille Nichols Patrick and Barbara Nichols Brass. There was a new strapping and handsome guy there whom she fell in love with, and his name was Shad Martoglio.

They were married on June 14, 1948, in Cody and later moved to Laramie, where Shad had a football scholarship.

While living in student housing, she and Jane Shurley were the social directors, organizing all the events for the players, their wives, and children. After Laramie, they moved to North Platte, Neb., and later back to Cody where Shad worked as a teacher and coach and Babe raised four children: Larry, Gary, Terry and Tony.

Babe worked at the family restaurant, The Mayflower Café, with her three sisters Phyllis, Rosa and Elaine, as well as her brother Andy. She later went to work at Eastside Elementary School as an aide and playground teacher. She became the mother to hundreds of children and made sure they all had warm clothes and Christmas presents.

She was the “Queen of Christmas,” and her home was always decorated early in October. She fed more people during the holidays than most restaurants feed in a month.

Babe was known for her excellent cooking skills. Shad and Babe entertained lots of friends and family at their home on Kerper Boulevard, the “Alley Bar.”

She is survived by her three children, Larry of Sheridan, Terry House of Sparks, Nev., and Tony of Cody; her grandchildren Andrea (Fil) Turcer, Molly Martoglio, JD (Angela) House, Joshua, Jordan and Jennifer Martoglio, a great-granddaughter, Layla Turcer, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Shad, son Gary, and her sisters, brother and parents.  

The family has set up an account at the First Bank of Wyoming, PO Box 2260, Cody, WY 82414 for the Cody Fire Department’s Children’s Christmas Fund.

Memorial services will be at Christ Episcopal Church at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 28. A celebration of life will follow at the Silver Dollar Bar.

Ballard Funeral Home is in charge of arrangments. An online memorial is available at www.ballardfh.com

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