A FORMER cook of 23 years, Sylvia Alice Silvester, died at St Mary's Hospital, Newport, on May 16, aged 72.

Born Plymouth on February 15, 1949, she was the daughter of Leonard and Margaret Gover.

Sylvia, of Grafton Street, Sandown, was educated at Borrington School in Plymouth.

During her working life, she was a cook at The Old Drum public house in Petersfield, between 1974 and 1996.

She married her husband of almost 50 years, George Sylvester, in Plymouth in 1971.

In 2001, Sylvia received a heart transplant at Harefield Hospital, London, which George says gave her another 20 years of life.

"We will always be so grateful to all the Harefield team for this wonderful gift," said George.

The couple moved to the Isle of Wight in 2001 to enjoy a slower pace of life in their retirement.

"It really suited Sylvia down to the ground — sitting on the beach or paddling in the sea was her idea of the high life," said George.

Sylvia died peacefully with George at her side, holding her hand while he read to her. 

Her funeral will be held at the Isle of Wight Crematorium, Whippingham, at 2.15pm on Friday, July 2.

Sylvia is survived by her husband, her brother Dennis and her sister Corrine.

Due to current Covid restrictions, numbers attending the service will be controlled.

The web link to attend the funeral virtually is https://vimeo.com/561705154 (password is 2WQDd6D5y).