Cheryl Anne (Fowler) Magdziak, 79, of Syracuse passed away on Friday, October 2, 2026 in Woodstock, Georgia after a year long illness.  She was born in Syracuse, New York on March 19th, 1947 and graduated as valedictorian of her high school class at Rome Free Academy in 1965.  Following her high school graduation Cheryl attended The Community General Hospital of Greater Syracuse School of Nursing graduating as valedictorian in 1968.  She began her career as a registered nurse at Community General Hospital, specializing in psychiatry.  She continued her academic studies at State University of New York at Utica-Rome receiving her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing in 1979.  Cheryl’s career continued as Director of Nursing at Benjamin Rush Center, a private psychiatric hospital in Syracuse.  She spent 37 years, the bulk of her nursing career, as a psychiatric nurse for the Veterans Administration Hospital in Syracuse.   During her long tenure there she was instrumental in the development of an extensive outreach program for homeless veterans in several upstate New York counties.   Cheryl was proud to be able to work with and be an advocate for the veterans that had served and sacrificed for our country.  She was described by her coworkers as an exceptional clinician, teacher, and mentor, who cared deeply for her patients. 

Cheryl loved the ocean and her happiest memories were of spending time on Cape Cod with her closest friends.   She was a great listener and could often offer a logical solution for problems brought to her by patients, friends, or family.   Cheryl had a very quick wit and enjoyed sharing her sense of humor.   She loved poetry and cherished her time with her nephews. 

She is survived by her sister Shanon (James) Schneider (Roswell, GA) and their children Dane, (Amy) West Chester, PA, Brett (Dustin), Atlanta, GA and Trey (Uyen) Roswell, GA. 

A funeral mass will be held on Friday, November 6th at 10:30 am at St. Peter Chanel Church in Roswell, Georgia.  Interment will be at the Manlius Military Cemetery in Manlius, New York at a date to be determined in 2027.