Janiss M. Sylvester, 82, of Derry, NH passed away Saturday December 29, 2018, at Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital in Bradford, MA. Janiss was born January 3, 1936 in Melrose, MA and was the daughter of the late Melvin and Margery (Ricker) White. She was raised in Wilmington, MA and had been a resident of Derry for several years.
Janiss had been employed as an Administrative Assistant with Marshalls Department store, amongst other various jobs. She was an accomplished quilter and had been a member of the Merrimack Valley Quilters, a former member of Rockingham Chapter #3 Order of the Eastern Star and the Daughters of the Nile. Janiss was an avid reader and enjoyed history. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Derry and a volunteer with the FBC Food Pantry.
Members of the family include a son Wendell J. and his wife Lisa Sylvester, daughter, Jeanette Kelly, daughter Lyrae and her husband, Douglas Bowser, son Bryan and his wife Bonnie Sylvester and a daughter Gail and her husband, Paul Hardy, 15 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren, her companion of 12 years, Paul Provencher, three brothers, Ricker White, Bruce and his wife Karen White and Craig White. She was pre-deceased by her beloved husband, Wendell P. Sylvester, Jr. in 1989 and by brothers Melvin and Andrew White.
A memorial service was held Friday, January 4, 2019 at 1:00pm at the First Baptist Church, 4 Crystal Ave. Derry. A celebration of life followed at Gaythorne Halls (Methuen Knights of Columbus) 462 Broadway Methuen, MA. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the FBC Food Pantry, 4 Crystal Ave. #4, Derry, NH 03038. The Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium assisted the family with arrangements.