Sylvia Plossay
LEWISTON – On Feb. 7, 2022, Sylvia Plossay joined her cherished husband, Ed, in paradise as her family played their song, Edelweiss, to her.
She was the beloved mother of Michael Plossay (Dawn) and Deb Kachel (Bob); grandmother of Brett (Lauren), Bryce (Danielle), Molly (Dustin), Andrew (Amber), Cory (Ashlie) and Dusty (Jess); and great-grandmother of Lydia, Eli, Sawyer, Tristan, Sylvie, Charlie and Cal. She was adored by all of them. She was a loving sister to brothers Harry, Richard and the late Allison Rand and cared deeply for their families.
“Mammy”, as known to all and “Syb” by many friends, had an extraordinary love for all people. She was a mother to whomever entered her home. Family and friends will always remember her cookies in the cookie jar, candy in the candy dish and her unending hugs and kisses.
On June 9, 1934, Ruby and Stanwood Rand welcomed Sylvia Faye, their daughter. Big brown eyes, petite and sweet, her father’s job took them all over the state of Maine. At Central Maine General Hospital, she became a registered nurse and made many lifelong friends.
In 1956, she married the love of her life, Edward Plossay, on her birthday. They raised their two children in Lewiston and were very active in Saint Joseph’s parish and school. Sylvia became a well-known, old-school nurse with compassion and a comforting smile. Her career included: Nurse at the Bates Manufacturing Mill, Director of Nursing at Pease, Green Acres and Grand View Nursing Homes. She also served on the board of directors at Sarah Frye Nursing Home. Sylvia was especially fond and proud of her time as a nurse for the private practices of Dr. Michael Bach, and Drs. Candace and Ted Walworth. She looked upon them and her colleagues there as family.
A proud moment for Sylvia took place when she was able to see her granddaughter, Molly, graduate from the same nursing school and bestow her nursing pin on her. Her last “nursing job” was as a patient at Montello Manor, where she “helped” all the nurses with the daily duties. Her family is very grateful for the loving care that nurse Elizabeth and all the staff gave to her at the end of her life. The care she also received from Androscoggin Home Health and Hospice will never be forgotten.
Sylvia loved with all her heart and was dedicated to her family. Her favorite place was the family “camp” on Wilson Pond in North Monmouth. “Mammy” played nonstop with her grandchildren and was known to do cannonballs into the lake with them. She spent hours playing contract rummy, making sure Bryce, Cory and Dusty didn’t get caught cheating.
She and Ed loved visiting her daughter’s family in Colorado, going cross country skiing with neighbors and friends and she was perhaps the biggest Red Sox fan ever. As a young girl, she listened to Boston Braves games on the radio and kept score sheets of their games. Henry Aaron was her hero and later on she could be heard cheering loudly for Yaz and all the Sox to follow across the pond every summer. Her love of baseball captured her grandson, Andrew, who has become a successful college baseball coach and is a scout for her revered Red Sox.
On upper Main Street, “Syb and Ed” and dear friends Sally and Merle Bates raised their families together. Sally has remained her dearest friend to this day. The neighbors – the Peillets, the Dams and the Fourniers meant the world to her. When the time came for her to move on from her home, Syb joined her grandson, Brett, who bought a home with a special apartment for his “mammy”. It was a precious time for her to still have family so close.
The greatest wisdom our mother passed on to all of us has always been – “Patience is a virtue.” It is permanently etched in all our memories. She took interest in everything her family did. She read countless books to each family member, was the best person to talk to about anything and was so very proud of her family. She was everyone’s best friend and that smile of hers lit up our lives.
Messages of condolence may be made to: http://www.finleyfuneralhome.com
Sylvia’s family will host a celebration of life at camp this summer. Details will be shared with all her family and friends as plans develop. Arrangements by BRAGDON-FINLEY FUNERAL, 707 Main St., Monmouth.