Sylvia Jean Pinkham

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Sylvia (McAllister) Pinkham, a woman completely devoted to her family and truly the glue that held them together, passed away peacefully with family at her side on Thursday, October 16, 2025, at the Sawtelle Family Hospice House, where she was lovingly cared for.
Sylvia was born in Somerville, the daughter of A. Louise (Murphy) and Henry McAllister. Sadly, her father Henry passed away when Sylvia was just a child. In time, her mother met and fell in love with John Ryan. John not only honored Henry's memory but also embraced Louise's children as his own. To Sylvia and her siblings, John was never a stepfather-he was a second father who brought love, stability, and joy to their lives.
Sylvia graduated from Somerville High School, where she met the love of her life, Ed Pinkham. They were high school sweethearts, prom dates, and were married on May 1, 1965. Shortly after, they began building their beautiful family together.
Sylvia was the heart, matriarch, and epicenter of her family. She was "all in" as a mother-filled with unconditional love, patience, and empathy. She embodied the qualities of a great mother: consistency, compassion, resilience, forgiveness, and respect, all balanced with a gentle firmness that guided her children through life.
She was deeply involved in her children's and later her grandchildren's lives. If something mattered to them, it mattered to her. Sylvia attended every school event, volunteered for the PTO, participated in fundraisers, and chaperoned countless field trips. She cheered from the sidelines at football, baseball, track, soccer, figure skating, karate, lacrosse, hockey, cheer competitions, and Boy Scout events-never missing an opportunity to show her support. She also served on the Somerville High School Scholarship Committee well into her 70s.
Even in retirement, Sylvia's calendar was filled with family activities. She loved supporting her children and grandchildren at every stage of their lives-from school to college to parenthood. She was always just a phone call away if anyone needed advice, guidance, or simply a listening ear. She offered help willingly but respectfully, never overstepping boundaries. Whether babysitting or lending a hand, she helped maintain the strong family bond that grew with each marriage and new grandchild.
Sylvia loved hosting holidays, filling her home to the brim with laughter, warmth, and family. Her Thursday dinners were a cherished tradition, especially for her grandchildren who looked forward to "Nana's Macaroni and Cheese".
Family vacations were another treasured tradition. When her children were young, vacations were spent visiting family in Henniker, New Hampshire, and Dennisport. As the family grew, Sylvia and Ed began renting large lakefront homes on Lake Winnipesaukee, Sebago Lake, Long Lake, and Moose Pond filling them with family, fun, and love. Sometimes more than 20 relatives would gather under one roof to play games, swim, boat, and make lifelong memories. Sylvia was blessed to continue that cherished tradition right up until this past summer, hoping her children would carry it forward for generations to come.
Outside of family, Sylvia enjoyed an active and fulfilling life. She was a longtime member of the Arlington Boys and Girls Club, where she participated in water aerobics. The women in her class lovingly called themselves "The Pool Ladies," and they often gathered after class for coffee or lunch. Sylvia and her sister Ellen shared a lifelong bond, creating ceramics together and traveling to visit extended family and always being each other's confidante and closest friend.
Sylvia also dedicated nearly forty years to Middlesex Federal Savings and Loan in Davis Square, Somerville. Over the years, she balanced full-time work, took time off to raise her children, returned part-time, and eventually resumed full-time until retirement. She cherished her coworkers and customers.
Sylvia considered herself deeply blessed. Her greatest legacy was her family, whom she loved with her whole heart. They were her pride and joy, and she was endlessly proud of the lives they built and the values they carried. Though she would never take credit for their accomplishments, her children and grandchildren had an extraordinary role model in Sylvia.
The Pinkham family will carry on with heavy hearts, missing their beloved mother and grandmother deeply. Yet they are comforted by the beautiful memories, strong values, and loving example she leaves behind-a timeless roadmap for life.
Sylvia was the beloved wife of the late Edwin "Ed" Pinkham who passed in 2022. She was the loving mother of Ed Pinkham & his wife Maria of Andover, Mark Pinkham & his wife Gail of Burlington, Patricia Moniz & her husband Paul of Reading, David Pinkham & his wife Laura of Burlington and Steven Pinkham of Billerica. She was the proud grandmother of Timothy, Alyson, Shawn, Matt, Amy, Ashley, & Liam Pinkham, and Marisa, Jake, & Matt Moniz. She was the sister of Donald Ryan & his wife Grace of VA, Ann Gould & her husband Scott of Henniker, NH, the late Louise DeVincentis & her late husband Joseph, the late Rosalie Swanfeldt & her late husband Norman, the late Henry McAllister & his late wife Carol, the late James Ryan & his late wife Maureen, and the late Ellen Ogren & her late husband Gerald. She was also survived by many nieces, nephews, and friends.
Visiting hours will be held at the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn Street, Burlington on Monday, October 20 from 4 to 7 p.m. Funeral from the Sullivan Funeral Home on Tuesday, October 21 at 9 a.m. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Margaret Church in St. Veronica Parish, www.stveronicama.org, at 10 a.m. Services will conclude with a burial at Puritan Lawn Memorial Park in Peabody.
Memorials in Sylvia's name may be made to the Arlington Boys and Girls Club, www.abgclub.org, 60 Pond Lane, Arlington, MA 02474.