Sylvia Zimmerman

East Longmeadow, Mass. — Sylvia (Martin) Zimmerman, 94, of Benton Drive, passed away at home on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2017.

Sylvia married Raymond Zimmerman in 1949, and lived happily with him until his passing in December 2007. Together they raised six children, Carl (Donna), Jane, Karen, Paul (Alicia), Kelly Handorf (Bob) and Michael (Seanna). Sylvia was a devoted grandmother of 11 and great-grandmother of six. She also leaves many nieces and nephews.

Sylvia was born in Natchitoches, La., in 1923, to Horace and Nell Martin. She was raised by her paternal grandmother, Etta J. Martin, in Hebron, along with her siblings, Dwight Martin and Kathleen Fill. She graduated from Windham High School in 1941, and entered nursing school along with her sister, Kathleen. She proudly graduated from the Lawrence + Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in 1948 as a RN and worked as a nurse at Springfield Hospital.

Upon their retirement in 1990, Ray and Sylvia moved to Jupiter, Fla., and summered in their home on Lords Point in Stonington. In 2007, they moved to Lords Point. On her own for many years at Lords Point, she enjoyed family visits, the daily newspaper, good seafood, Sea Swirl ice cream, swimming at the Westerly/ Pawtucket YMCA, slot machines at the nearby casinos and playing board games with girls from the neighborhood, Hannah and Naomi.

There will be a visitation from 1 to 2 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 1, at the Toomey-O’Brien Funeral Home, 1043 Westfield St., West Springfield, Mass., followed by a memorial service at 2 p.m. at the funeral home and a committal service at 3 p.m. at the Massachusetts Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery, 1390 Main St., Agawam, Mass.

The family wishes to thank the staff and caregivers at the East Village Place assisted living home and her neighbors on Lords Point for their kindness toward Sylvia.