NATICK (formerly University Park, Florida & Concord, MA): Sylvia (Barnett) Woodhouse, 76, passed away on Sunday, July 8 after a courageous battle with ALS. She leaves her loving husband of 54 years, Frank Woodhouse. In addition to her beloved husband, Sylvia leaves her three daughters: Jane Segale and her husband Tom of Natick, Kate Chung and her husband Si of Acton and Sally Woodhouse of Natick; her sister Margaret Watson and her husband Joe of the United Kingdom; her grandchildren: Nicole Segale, James Chung, Alison Chung and Will Segale; her nieces and nephews: Phillipa Kerr, Justin Seward, Glenn Watson and his wife Larissa, Jill Shearer and her husband Rob, Terrance Homer, David Homer, Joan Taylor and her husband Ken, Kathleen Emory and her husband Roger, Janet Bartlett and her husband Michael, and John Woodhouse. She was predeceased by her sisters Phyllis Seward and Dorothy Barnett.
Born the daughter of (late) John and Freda (Tilbury) Barnett in Woodford Green, England on August 24, 1941, she lived in the United Kingdom until moving to the United States forty years ago. Sylvia graduated from Battersea College with a focus on dietetics. She married Frank in 1964 and together they had three children. She worked as a dietitian and later as an office manager for several different companies until her retirement.
Sylvia had a truly adventurous spirit, always wanting to try new things and see new places. She loved opera, gourmet cooking, playing golf and tennis and spending time with her friends. She was extremely proud of her title as a life master at bridge. Her default response to any suggested adventure or activity was “yes.” She will be deeply missed.
A celebration of Sylvia’s life will be held in John Everett & Sons Funeral Home, 4 Park Street, Natick, MA 01760 on Saturday, July 21 at 11:00 A.M.
Visitation will take place prior to the service in the funeral home from 10:00 A.M.-11:00 A.M.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Sylvia’s name to: The ALS Association, Gift Processing Center, P.O. Box 32027, Boone, IA 50037-0022 (www.alsa.org) or Compassionate Care ALS, P.O. Box 1052, West Falmouth, MA 02574 (www.CCALS.org).