AUBURN – Barbara Florence Sylvester, 85, of New Gloucester, passed away peacefully, with her family by her side on Wednesday, Aug. 1, at the Hospice House of Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice.

She was born in Lewiston on April 10, 1922, a daughter of the late Melvin H. and Elizabeth (McFadden) Olson. She was educated in the Auburn school system and graduated from Edward Little High School, Class of 1940, and from Central Maine General School of Nursing 1943.

In 1944, she joined the U.S. Army Nurse Corps serving during World War II in Florence, Italy, and Manila, where she earned a WWII victory medal and EAME campaign medal with two bronze service stars, AP campaign medal, Meritorious Medal and the Women Army Corps Medal.

She married Raymond W. Sylvester on Feb. 9, 1946, and together they raised their four children while pursuing her nursing career. She was a member of the Court Street Baptist Church and also attended the New Gloucester Bible Church. She was also a member of the Hunnewell Amvets Post 6 in New Gloucester.

She cherished her many friends both near and far and maintained many close relationships across the United States. She was a best friend to her girls and loved the time spent with them. Some of her favorite times were her many trips with her family to Florida and cruising to Bermuda, the Caribbean and Alaska. She was a wonderful cook and created many memories for her children and grandchildren at all the family gatherings, she organized over the years.

She will be missed by her husband of 61 years, Raymond Sylvester of New Gloucester; three daughters, Rae Jean Bryant, and her husband, Leslie, Betty Campbell, and companion, Tom Campbell and Kim Estes, and husband, Shane; a son, Scott Sylvester, and wife, Jeanne; grandchildren, Robert W. Campbell Jr., Ryan W, Campbell, Randall W. Campbell, Mark Bryant, Chelsea Estes, Madison Estes, Shannon Sylvester and Slade Knightly; great-grandchildren, Keaira and Hunter Bryant, Hannah and Dylan Campbell and Ashley and Ross Campbell; a sister, Phyllis Jackson; a sister-in-law, Marion Sylvester; and brothers-in-law, Ralph Sylvester and Joseph Arnold; and several nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by brother and sister-in-law, Melvin E and Louise Olson; sister-in-law, Laura Arnold; and a son-in-law, Robert W. Campbell Sr.

The family would like to send a special thank-you to Dr. Austin and the wonderful staff of the Androscoggin Hospice House for the wonderful care given to Barbara and her family during these past few weeks.