Sylvia Hennessey

Sylvia M. Hennessey, 91, of Warwick, RI, passed away on March 23, 2017 at Bayberry Commons Nursing Home in Pascoag, RI surrounded by her loving daughters. Born in West Warwick, she was the daughter of the late John and Julia Paliy. She was the beloved wife of Herbert R. Hennessey for the past 61 years. They met at Gibson’s Ice Cream Shop in Pawtucket and were rarely seen apart from each other. They enjoyed babysitting their 3 grandchildren and granddog “Daisy”, eating at Marchetti’s Restaurant every Friday night and hanging out at McDonalds with their other retired friends.

Sylvia was a graduate of Pawtucket East High School and attended Tabbot Hubbard Secretarial School for one year. She was a homemaker and spent many hours volunteering as a Girl Scout leader, a PTA member at Wyman Elementary School and serving at Asbury Methodist Church. Sylvia worked for many years in the security department at T.F. Green Airport. Her true love was playing tennis and she played for over 30 years at Rhode Island Tennis with her good friend Barbara Priest.

After retiring, Sylvia babysat her grandchildren every Monday for over twenty years. Grandma Syl will be greatly missed by them and will be affectionately remembered whenever Gunsmoke or Bonanza reruns are on TV.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by her two daughters, Cynthia Tracy of Smithfield and Nancy Wilcox of Hope Valley; her two sons-in-law Paul Tracy and Paul Wilcox and grandchildren Matthew, Julie and Zachary Wilcox.

Sylvia’s family would like to thank Dr. Winters, Hope Hospice and Bayberry Commons for the wonderful care she received.

The funeral will be April 7, 2017 at 9am at Avery Funeral Home in Hope Valley with burial to follow at the Rhode Island Veterans Cemetery in Exeter. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Hope Hospice of Rhode Island.

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