Sylvia Colmer

SALEM, N.H. ?Sylvia Colmer 78, It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Sylvia T. (Silva) Colmer on Thursday, January 12, 2012. She passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family, at Holy Family Hospital. Sylvia was born on May 11, 1933 and was a long time resident of Lawrence on Tower Hill and more recently Salem, New Hampshire. Sylvia was predeceased by her husband James R. Colmer, her parents Manuel and Bernice (Kasinska) Silva and her adoring grandchildren Joseph ?Joey? Altobelli and Albert Francis Viti, III. She was the loving mother and mother-in-law of Cheryl and her husband Albert Viti of Salisbury Mass., Karen Altobelli and fianc� Gerald Davis of Bethlehem, NH, Richard and his wife Anna Colmer of Plaistow NH and Pamela and her husband Patrick Driscoll of Lawrence. She was the cherished grandmother to Jamie and Jonathan Viti, Heather and her husband Daniel Kelley, Katie Altobelli, Patrick and Connor Driscoll, and great grandmother to Kyle, Alexandria and Nathan Viti and Savannah Kelley. She also leaves her treasured brothers Robert Silva & his loving partner Cecile LaRoche, Gerald Silva and her sister Ilene and husband Robert Ryan. She had many nieces and nephews. Sylvia graduated from Lawrence High School and North Shore Community College with a degree in Early Childhood Education. She worked as a Paraprofessional at AB Bruce School and St. Augustines Grammar School in Lawrence for several years. She then went on to work at AEG Schneider Automation Inc. in Andover for 30 years as a group leader. She celebrated her retirement in 2003 with a trip to Las Vegas with her children and grandchildren! Sylvia was very involved at St. Augustines volunteering for Bingo, the Christmas Fair and most importantly for the FISH Program, helping those less fortunate. Sylvia also volunteered for many years at Challenge House Drug Rehab Center in Methuen and had the family involved as well. She enjoyed the simple pleasures of reading, crocheting and knitting; every grandchild went home from the hospital with a hat and sweater made with love by Nani. She particularly enjoyed vacationing at Lake Winnipesaukee, where she enjoyed spending time with family, relaxing on the porch watching her children and grandchildren boating, jet skiing, tubing, water skiing and fishing off the dock. Sylvia also loved Seabrook and Salisbury Beaches, where she loved just sitting on the deck soaking up the sun and watching the boats going in and out of the bay. Sylvia found joy in the family being together to celebrate holidays and special occasions. She shared her virtues of love, compassion and kindness to everyone whose life she touched. Her happiest and most memorable moments were when she spent time with her children and grandchildren in Florida. She was a wonderful, loving, caring woman who radiated a deep commitment and dedication to her family and her Catholic Faith. Her life was her family, and she was happiest when she was doing for them, and spending time with all of them. She will be greatly missed by all her family and friends. The family would like to express their heartfelt thanks to the Holy Family Hospital Emergency Room staff along with the physicians and wonderful nurses in the Intensive Care Unit that treated our mother as their own. We know Sylvia is in heaven dancing with the angels. ARRANGEMENTS: A Mass of Christian burial will take place Friday at 10 a.m. at St. Monica?s Church in Methuen. Friends will be warmly received on Thursday, January 19th from 4 to 8 p.m. at Kenneth H. Pollard Funeral Home, 233 Lawrence Street, Methuen. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Joseph Altobelli Scholarship Fund, c/o Lawrence Firefighters, P.O. Box 533, Lawrence, MA 01842. For directions and to send online condolences, please visit www.pollardfuneralhome.com .