James Sylvia, Jr., 75, of Dartmouth died Tuesday November 11, 2008 at home surrounded by his family after a long illness. He was the husband of Joan E. (Medeiros) Sylvia; they had been married for 54 years.
Born in Dartmouth, the son of the late James and Anna (Medeiros) Sylvia, he lived in New Bedford and Dartmouth for most of his life.
Mr. Sylvia was formerly employed by Baxter Transportation in Hyannis for 20 years and later by Foley Fish Company until his retirement.
During the Korean War, he served in the U.S. Army.
He was very artistic and enjoyed drawing, bird carving, and writing. He had a love for all types of music and enjoyed listening to his extensive CD collection. Most of all, he enjoyed spending time with his family and friends.
Survivors include his wife; four sons, James III and his wife Lisa of Cumming, GA, Steven and his wife Fatima of New Bedford, Richard and his wife Joann, and David and his wife Mary, all of Dartmouth; four sisters, his twin, Eleanor Whitehead, and Dolores Whitehead, both of Yarmouthport, Beverly Alcrim of New Bedford, and Charlotte Sylvia of Dartmouth; ten grandchildren, Derek, Matthew, Stephanie, Andrew, Grace, Luke, Meredith, and Mairwen Sylvia, Steven Maciel, and Heather Matos; four great-grandchildren; and a nephew and many nieces.
His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday at 10 AM at St. Mary's Church, South Dartmouth. Burial will follow in St. John's Cemetery. Visiting hours will be on Thursday from 5-8 PM at the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 10 Brookline Place West, 6th Floor, Brookline, MA 02445-7226, or Southcoast Hospice, 200 Mill Rd., Fairhaven, MA 02719. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.