Joan Manning Sylvia, 81, of Fairhaven, MA and Venice, FL passed away on May 9, 2016 at the Hospice House of Venice. She was the loving wife of Norman A. Sylvia; they were married 58 years.
Born in New Bedford, she was the daughter of the late Richard H. Manning, Jr. and Mary “Mae” (Sweeney) Manning. She lived in New Bedford most of her life before moving to Fairhaven and Venice several years ago.
Joan was a graduate of Holy Family High School and was employed by Met Life for 31 years. She was a member of the New Bedford Catholic Woman’s Club. She enjoyed life to the fullest and enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren, and her many loving friends.
Survivors include her husband, Norman; her daughter, Anne Marie Gardner and her husband, Scott of Durham, NC and a son, Timothy J. Sylvia and his wife, Mary Catherine Cross, of Ellicott City, MD. Her grandchildren include Matthew Cross, Andrew Sylvia, Edward “Ted” Sylvia, Eric Gardner and Andrew Gardner, and one great grandson. She has one niece, Joan Marie Pepin and her husband, Michael Woods, of Arlington, VA and their three children Caroline, Richard and Charlie. She is also survived by her brother-in-law, Richard L. Pepin, of Fairhaven and several cousins.
She was predeceased by her sister, Mary Manning Pepin.
The family will receive friends on May 22nd from 3pm to 6pm at Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Route 6, Mattapoisett. Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated on May 23rd at 9am at Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in New Bedford. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, 121 Mt. Pleasant Street, New Bedford, MA 02740. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.