Lebanon, N.H. —
Sylvia was predeceased by her husband of 59 years, William A. French, son Stephen A. French, and brother Bertram Steinhard. Sylvia is survived by her daughter, Pamela R. Hanson (husband Carl Hanson) of Grantham, N.H., daughter-in-law Rosemary French of Lancaster, Pa.; four grandchildren: Ian Hanson (wife Brooke Hanson) of Nicasio, Calif., Emily Hanson (husband Klaus Zimmermann and sons Sylvan and Aldo) of Amery, Wisc., Rachel Beckley (husband Tim Beckley) of Mountville, Pa., and Elizabeth French of Lancaster, Pa.; one niece; seven nephews; and two sisters-in-law.
Sylvia was born Sylvia E. Steinhard May 2, 1928, in Cincinnati. She attended public schools, received her BA from the University of Cincinnati and her MSW from the University of Connecticut. She worked in a neighborhood Settlement House before marriage, substitute taught when her children were young, and eventually began a social work department at Providence Hospital in Sandusky, Ohio, which grew from half-time to a staff of five serving the patients and employees of the hospital.
Active as a young person in her church’s youth organization, Sylvia dreamed of being a missionary in China. When the language proved too daunting, she instead went to Mexico with the American Friends Service for a summer to vaccinate children. She was active in the women’s circles of churches wherever she lived, and taught Sunday School for a few years.
After retirement and the shift from snowbird to year-round residence in Sebring, Fla., Sylvia enjoyed volunteering at a local elementary school, quilting for charity with her guild as well as for her own pleasure and for family, and keeping up with children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Sylvia loved to travel, and bicycled through Europe with the American Youth Hostels as a young adult. She met her husband through AYH and they continued to hike and bicycle with their family. She believed that travel was part of her children’s education, and the family camped all around the U.S. After retirement, Sylvia and Bill were privileged to make many trips overseas. Until health limited them, they traveled to visit their children and grandchildren at least twice a year from wherever they lived.
A celebration of life will be held Oct. 27, 2018, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in White River Junction, Vt. Memorial gifts may be made to St. Paul’s Church with “discretionary fund” in the memo line.