Anne Marie Sylvester

Anne Marie Sylvester, nee Ellsworth, of Grosse Pointe Woods passed away Monday, October 6, 2025, at Henry Ford St. John Hospital. She will be remembered by all who knew her for her generosity, fighting spirit, sense of humor, and penchant for storytelling.
Born October 4, 1945, to Irma Brunner Ellsworth and Colin McK Ellsworth in Detroit, Michigan, Anne Marie attended St. Martin School in the Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood for 12 years, graduating in 1963. The first in her family to attend college, she earned a Bachelor's in journalism from the University of Michigan in 1967 and a Master's in journalism from Michigan State University in the 1980s.
A proud Cadet and Wolverine, Anne Marie cherished the friendships she made at St. Martin and the University of Michigan throughout her life. She was a driving force behind St. Martin class reunions, trips, birthday luncheons, picnics and friendly and enthusiastic communications for decades. As far as education, campus experience and, most definitely sports, were concerned, there was only one school that mattered: the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Anne Marie celebrated her 80th birthday in the company of her son and his family, needlepointing her 51st Christmas stocking (this last one for her first great grandchild, Hank, born in September, and whom she held for the first time the day before her death), quizzing her grandsons on their states and capitals "for fun," and of course, watching her beloved Wolverines best the Badgers.
Storytelling was always important to Anne Marie. Whether it was writing humorous plays performed by her younger sisters as teenagers, being mentored by Sr. Marie Edwards, IHM, at St. Martin, working on the Michiganensian at the Student Publications Building, facing her first deadline at age 22 as a reporter for United Press International (UPI), a short stint teaching journalism at the University of Detroit, or the many years she spent working in communications at the Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Association (MVMA) and General Motors, stories and communication, were never far from her mind.
An ovarian cancer survivor of more than 15 years, Anne Marie loved nothing more than sharing stories and family lore with her family in person late into the evening, preferably over a glass of wine, or over the phone at any hour of the day. She was generous with her children, grandchildren, siblings, and friends, offering up her home or the use of her car, and enjoying trips with them over the years to France, England, Italy, Germany, and China. She loved a good party and was not averse to throwing herself one as she did the month before her 80th birthday.
Anne Marie will be dearly missed. She is survived by her children Rebecca (Christopher) Tull, Amy (Brian) Hayes, and Danny (Kristen) Sylvester; grandchildren Allison (Hunter) Fosket, Nick Hayes, Natalie Hayes, Sam Tull, Lucy Tull, Kayla Sylvester, Sophia Sylvester, Roger Sylvester, Major Sylvester; great grandson, Hank Fosket; her sisters Barbara (Jim) Crate, Margaret (John) Curran, Colleen (Pat) Kolar; brother McKay (Mei) Ellsworth; cousin Mary Lou Dunipace; ex-husband Curt Sylvester; and many dear nieces and nephews, great nieces and great nephews, and friends.
Donations may be made in her honor to Humble Design Detroit or a charity of your choice.
Family will receive guests on Friday, October 17th from 10 am until the time of her Funeral Mass at 10:30 am at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church, 467 Fairford Road, Grosse Pointe Woods.