Colleen Sylvia

Colleen Rae Sylvia, 52, of Ledyard, CT, passed away the night of July 7, 2017, peacefully at home with her family. She was born September 18, 1964 in Seymour, WI, to Paul and Pearl (Ploeger) Kramer.
Colleen attended Seymour High School in Seymour, WI and continued her education at Fox Valley Technical School in Appleton, WI. She was a baptized and confirmed member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Seymour, WI.
Colleen married her first husband Gary Specht and together they had two children, Daniel and Randall. While Gary was in the Navy she lived in the Philippines and Japan (where she was a substitute teacher). She continued to travel working for the Navy Lodge bringing her to Los Angeles, CA, Staten Island, NY and finally Montville, CT. Colleen embraced the culture wherever she lived and made many lifelong friends. Colleen was the manager of the Navy Lodge in Groton, CT when she met and then married Rodney Sylvia on July 18, 1998, together having one son, Jacob. She has since lived in Ledyard the remainder of her life, close to all of her children and grandchildren.
Colleen was generous and loving. If you were lucky enough you may have been a recipient of her delicious baking, wonderful sewing projects and her crocheted caps for new babies in the hospitals. Colleen had the most wonderful sense of humor, right through to the end. She enjoyed entertaining and was a gracious hostess. Colleen was a very determined woman who worked enthusiastically and energetically to accomplish her goals. When she was 8 years old a very kind teacher talked to her about her tremors. Colleen used exercise and hard work to keep the tremors under control but that could only do so much because the tremors progressed as she got older. Through all of this Colleen was a beautiful tornado of hard work and energy. She focused this energy to create a home that provided a sanctuary for her family to relax and enjoy. For those who were in need she could be counted on to be there with a helping hand. Her generosity and support touched many lives and will be missed by many.
She is survived by her devoted husband, Rodney, and son Jacob at home; her son Daniel (Maura) Specht and grandchildren Lyla, Lena and Luca in New London, CT; her son Randall (Jessica) Specht and grandchildren Elliot and Roland in Waterford, CT; her step son Colton Sylvia in Griswold, CT; her mother, Pearl and her four sisters Melody (Dan) Richter in Wisconsin Dells, WI, Tamara (Wayne) Mitchell in Springfield, MO, Caryn (Bob) Juidici in De Pere, WI, and Dyan Larmay in De Pere, WI; her brothers Judd (Darlene) Slade in Seymour, WI and Kevin Kramer and fiancAC. Dawn in Neenah, WI; her godson Joshua Larmay in Green Bay, WI; her in-laws Louis and Sandra Sylvia in Ledyard, CT; her sisters-in-law Cindy (Steve) Burke, Ledyard and Cheryl Sylvia in Waterford; and numerous nieces and nephews. Colleen was preceded in death by her father and brother-in-law Michael Sylvia.

Her family in Connecticut and extended family from Wisconsin all came together to do their part in making her remaining time here as comfortable as possible. There was much laughter at the dining table and fond memories retold and enjoyed by family and friends. Memories which will be cherished. We will think of Colleen on our birthdays because she made sure to call and sing to us. So funny and special, because she could sing just fine. Colleen leaves behind a wonderful legacy in her children and grandchildren whom she loved and adored. We were graced by her presence, her sense of humor, her kindness, her love and affection. Colleen Sylvia, wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend will be deeply missed. Life ends, love doesn't.

Colleen's family will receive guests for a memorial celebration of Colleen's life, the details will be announced at a later date.
In Lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Colleen can be made to:
a�� Essential Tremors research https://www.essentialtremor.org/about-the-ietf/forms/research-donation/

a�� The Closer to Free Fund, which jointly supports Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale-New Haven and Yale Cancer Center. Please make checks payable to Closer to Free Fund and mail to P.O. Box 1849, New Haven, CT 06508. Please include the honoree's name on the memo line. Secure online gifts can be made at https://www.givetoynhh.org/closertofree

Colleen's family would like to thank Dr. Manthous, Dr. Hellman, Nurses Maria and Cathy of Center for Hospice Care, Norwich CT and Marguerite Norwitz for their care and kindness.

1st Thess. 4:15. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.