Sylvia Catherine Schellhammer

GREENFIELD – Sylvia Catherine (Rhineberger) Schellhammer, age 83, of Greenfield, passed away Monday, February 16, 2026, at Vita Senior Living of Greenfield. She was born in Crystal City, Missouri on April 12, 1942, to Walter and Lillie (Siracusa) Rhineberger. Sylvia graduated from Festus High School in 1960. She married Lynn “JD” Schellhammer on April 1, 2017, at Calvary Baptist Church in Indianapolis. Sylvia was an example of excellence, strength, and love her entire life. In high school, Sylvia was an honor student, a member of multiple choirs and band, two-time Festus High School Tiger Queen, cheerleader, class president, and valedictorian. Following high school, Sylvia began building her life and family in Festus with her 4 children. In the early 1970s, the Hansen family moved to Indiana, where much of the family continued to reside. In the 1980s, Sylvia moved to Arizona, following opportunities to build her career in semi-conductor sales for Raytheon, a job she enjoyed and was most proud of. To be closer with her grandchildren, Sylvia moved back to Indiana, after being a resident in Arizona for 20 years. Sylvia’s grandchildren became the loves of her life, and she dedicated herself to helping to care for them and being present whenever she could. Throughout her life, Sylvia was a bright light and brought love, comfort, joy, and strength to the lives she touched. Sylvia enjoyed most the company of family and friends, and she served as a keystone to gather around, often inviting others to her home to eat, drink, laugh, and share stories. Sylvia loved travel, from cross-country trips to international destinations, she would explore, relax, tan, and share her love for new experiences with whomever she traveled with. Cabo San Lucas, Mexico and Orlando, Florida were her homes away from home, often vacationing there with family and meeting new friends and local bartenders along the way. Later in life, Sylvia became a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Indianapolis. She is survived by her husband, Lynn “JD” Schellhammer; children, Deborah Hansen, Jim (Tina) Hansen, Michelle (Steve) Spears, and Lisa (Richard Anderson) Fuchs; six grandchildren, Christian (Bailey) Hansen, Samuel Spears, Matthew Spears, Dylan Fuchs, Savanna (Austin) Alexander, and Zach Zerbe; and three great-grandchildren, Ellie Hansen, Watson Alexander, and Virginia Alexander. She was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Lillie Rhineberger; and brother, Jerome Rhineberger. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at Erlewein Mortuary & Crematory, 1484 W. US Hwy. 40, Greenfield, IN 46140. A Celebration of Life gathering will be held immediately following the service from 2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. at the mortuary. Pastor Julianne Thomas will be officiating. Memorial contributions may be made by mail to the Alzheimer's Association Indiana Chapter, 50 E. 91st. Street, Ste. #100, Indianapolis, IN 46209, or by website at www.alz.org/indiana, or to Paradigm Health, 8904 Bash Street, Suite B, Indianapolis, IN 46256. Envelopes will be available at the mortuary. Friends may share a memory or condolence at www.erleweinmortuary.com.

Sylvia Catherine Schellhammer

April 12, 1942 - February 16, 2026