Marie E. Sylvester

Marie E. (Mello) Sylvester, 88, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 8 at The Arbors of Bedford, NH surrounded, in her last few days, by her devoted family.
She was born on February 11, 1937 in Lowell, MA where she lived for many years before moving to Stinson Lake in Rumney, NH and ultimately residing in Fremont, NH. Marie was a truly kind, caring and compassionate woman who touched the lives of many. She will be best remembered for her dedication to family, her love of books and animals, her many years as a nurse and caregiver and her infectious smile that will glow eternally bright.
She was a graduate of Lowell High School and earned a nursing degree from Tewksbury State Hospital. For many years she pursued her avocation for caring for others as a charge nurse at Tewksbury Hospital and later at the Moosilauke Hospital in Warren, NH. In addition, she devoted a number of years to private nursing, caring compassionately for others. Her speciality was geriatric nursing and she was recognized for her gentle touch, always treating those in her care with the greatest of dignity. The care that would be returned to her in the last years of her own life. While Marie was extremely proud of her career in nursing, her true calling in life was that of wife, mother and "Meme". Her children and grandchildren were her greatest passion.
She loved to read and would enjoy many quiet hours immersed in her latest, favorite novel. She was also an avid letter writer and kept in touch with many friends and family through her frequent cards and letters. She was drawn to all creatures great and small and was particularly fond of cats and horses. She is survived by Belle, her 14 year old siamese cat that she adopted from the south. Her love affair with horses began when she was a young teen and was most evident when she took her trip of a lifetime to the Covered Wagon "Dude" Ranch in Gallatin Gateway, Montana at the remarkable age of 81.
Deeply mourned by her devoted husband Dewey of 68 years, her children Cheryl M. Palmer and her husband Rey A. Giallongo, Jr. of Aiken, SC, Dewey A. Sylvester, Jr. and wife Judith E. Sylvester of Pelham, NH, Diane V. Sylvester of Lowell, MA, Carol A. Sylvester and her partner John R. Keraghan of Groveland, MA and John W. Sylvester and wife Jennifer A. (Crotty) Sylvester of Lowell, MA; her grandchildren Rebecca A. Campbell of Boxborough, MA, Tiffany M. Allen and husband Timothy of Templeton, MA, Jacqueline M. Mombourquette of Lowell, MA, Robert F. Baudanza of Lowell, MA and Ava Hope Sylvester of Lowell, MA; and, her great grandchildren Addison, Nolan, Hudson, Charlotte, Jason and Evelyn. She is survived by her two sisters Verner A. Doherty Thamer of Chelmsford, MA and Elaine R. Couillard of Dracut, MA. She was predeceased by her parents Antonio and Verner (Daley) Mello of North Billerica, MA and her sister Linda A. Veillette of Pepperell, MA.
On Thursday, March 13, 2025 all are welcome to attend her calling hours from 4 - 7 p.m. at McDonough Funeral Home, 14 Highland Street, Lowell. Her funeral will begin on Friday morning at 10 a.m. at the funeral home. A procession will follow for burial at St. Patrick Cemetery, in the Chapel, on Gorham Street, Lowell.
For those unable to attend, her funeral will be live streamed here
https://www.facebook.com/McDonoughFuneralHome/videos/
The stream will begin a few minutes before the service.
The family would like to thank the dedicated and compassionate staff of The Arbors of Bedford, NH and Brookhaven Hospice for their loving care of her needs.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to either
www.alz.org Alzheimer's Association (www.alz.org)
www.humaneworld.org the National Humane Society
in her memory.