Sylvia Ann (Stratton) Sanchez

BRAINTREE - 

Sylvia Ann (Stratton) Sanchez

July 17, 1937 – January 5, 2020

Sylvia Ann (Stratton) Sanchez, age 82, passed peacefully on January 5, 2020 at Hancock Park Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Quincy after a long illness.  Sylvia was born in Greenfield in western Massachusetts, the daughter of Arthur and Katherine (Krasinski) Stratton, and grew up in the village of Millers Falls, Massachusetts.  Sylvia graduated from Turners Falls High School class of 1955, and from Quincy City Hospital School of Nursing in 1958 as a Registered Nurse.

Sylvia is survived by her daughters Sylvia Byorkman and husband Bruce, and Maria Cross and husband Peter, all of Braintree; and by her three granddaughters Kathryn Byorkman Gauthier, Rachel Byorkman, and Emma Cross.  Her former husband Archie Sanchez also survives her.

Sylvia began her nursing career at Quincy City Hospital before moving into the practice of Dr. Seth Crocker in Milton.  Sylvia was the Registered Nurse in the office, always greeting patients with her beautiful smile, a kind word, and excellent care; and continued there for a number of years until Dr. Crocker’s retirement.  From there, Sylvia worked at the health clinic at the Volpe National Transportation Systems Center in Cambridge, and retired from the health clinic at the Department of Defense Barnes Building in Boston in 2002.

Sylvia was a long time member of Bethany Congregational Church in Quincy where she belonged to the Amity team and served as a deaconess for many years.

As a single mother raising two daughters she was a steadfast and strong woman, always wanting the best for her girls.  She loved all sorts of handy work and would repaint rooms with bold colors, refinish furniture, host craft projects, and loved to decorate with a wonderful sense of style.  People remarked about what a kind, resilient, and empathetic person she was. 

Sylvia loved Christmas.  Each year she would decorate a beautiful, tall tree in her high ceiling home. Her friends would marvel at all of the ornaments, beads, and lights that covered the beautiful tree.  She loved hosting her annual Christmas party for all of her friends.  She had so many loving Whitwell Street friends that supported and carried her through the rest of her life.  Each Christmas Eve she would host dinner for the family making her special seafood casserole and ending the meal with plum pudding and hard sauce just like her English father would make.

In 2009 she had the opportunity to visit England with her daughters to see the country where her father was born.  She enjoyed their special time together seeing the beautiful gardens, all of the palaces, and the splendor of greater London.

The family would like to thank the wonderful caregivers at Hancock Park Rehabilitation and Nursing Center where Sylvia has received loving care over the past five years; and the caring staff of Beacon Hospice.

Rather than flowers, the family requests that donations in Sylvia’s memory be sent to The Marge Crispin Center, 46 Lincoln Street, Braintree, MA  02184, or to the Alzheimer's Association, 309 Waverley Oaks Road, Waltham, MA 02452 or at alz.org.

 A memorial service for Sylvia will be held Saturday, January 18, 2020 at 3:00 p.m. at Bethany Congregational Church, 18 Spear Street, Quincy, MA.  Family and friends are invited to gather prior to the service beginning at 2:00 p.m.

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