Marijke Silvent, 40, Mother of Two

Marijke J. (Van Fleet) Silvent, age 40, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, February 19th, 2014, in Leesburg, VA, after battling triple-negative breast cancer for over a year. 

Marijke’s passions were motherhood, photography, music, animals, the outdoors, and cherished time spent with family and friends. With camera in hand, she taught us to take one day at a time and truly savor the moment. 

Marijke was born on April 1, 1973 to David and Ella (Webb) Van Fleet in the state of Ohio. She grew up with her brother Dirk and parents in College Station, Texas, where she attended College Hills Elementary, Oakwood Middle School, A&M Jr. High, and A&M Consolidated HS. 

While she was in high school, the family relocated to Arizona. There, Marijke earned degrees in Biology and Broadcast Communications from Northern Arizona University. 

Her early career positions were as a reporter-journalist and TV News Anchor. Later she worked in organ donation at Donate Life of Arizona, and finally as a Public Information Officer for Arizona Game & Fish and the Scottsdale Unified School District. 

Marijke met and then married Edward F. Silvent, originally of West Wyoming, PA on October, 24, 2008. The Wedding Mass was celebrated by Decon Phil LoCascio at Our Lady of Joy Catholic Church in Carefree, AZ. 

Their marriage was blessed with two sons, Edison (3) and Cajetan (1). Marijke believed that her greatest accomplishment was her children. In 2012, the family moved to Leesburg, VA for a new job opportunity for Mr. Silvent at Orbital Sciences in Dulles, VA. Marijke was always active in various community organizations and in her Parish of St. John the Apostle in Leesburg. 

In addition to her loving husband and two sons, Ms. Silvent is survived by her two parents who live in Scottsdale, Arizona; her brother Dirk, Burbank, CA; and her 105 year-old grandmother, Flonnie Webb-Stephens.

Family will receive friends on Tuesday, February 25, 2014 between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. at Colonial Funeral Home, 201 Edwards Ferry Rd NE, Leesburg, VA 20176. Services are scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at Saint John the Apostle Catholic Church, 101 Oakcrest Manor Dr NE, Leesburg, VA 20176. Burial to follow service at Saint John Cemetery, Leesburg, VA.