Edith T. Sylvester

Edith Teams Sylvester passed away in the morning of September 19, 2025, at the age of 102½. Her beautiful soul lives in the hearts of all who loved and cherished her.

Edith was born on January 31, 1923, to parents, Bub and Ethel Teams, in Boone, North Carolina. Edith was most proud of her father’s accomplishments with but only a 6th grade education, having built Boone’s first hospital and several structures for Appalachian State Teachers College. Her mother was a talented seamstress. Both parents’ passions and strong work ethic figured heavily in Edith’s career path.

Edith’s first job was manager of Farmers Hardware & Supply’s housewares section. She learned all about tools, paint, guns, seed and fertilizer, and the like. In the fall of 1940, a handsome young man came in to buy a fishing license. She asked him the usual questions about age, weight, hair color and such. She added, “married”? He asked why that information was needed to buy a fishing license. She married him the following June! After their 4 children were born and raised, Edith returned to her career, working at Middleton Paint and Hardware, then Fish Building Supply, until her retirement in 1988.

Edith’s passions and skill sets were many. In grade school, she mastered the Palmer Method of cursive writing which she parlayed into calligraphy. Edith had a special gift for writing, which she shared with her “Reminisce Writing” class. She frequently penned letters printed in the Wisconsin State Journal and Middleton Times Tribune editorial pages. An avid gardener, her backyard flower garden was the envy of her neighborhood and often she’d cut blooms, setting them on her driveway to share with neighbors. She loved winged creatures, Emery was often quoted as saying she “was for the birds”. Her children were clothed in handmade, often smocked or embroidery embellished, apparel. Edith was best known for her philanthropy, her deep, abiding faith, her love of and devotion to family and friends, especially her Asbury church family. Edith loved organizing ‘hymn sings’ and “Lunch Bunch” get-togethers. So many have met and remained friends through her persistence of bringing people together.

Edith was married to the love of her life, Emery Charles Sylvester, for 68 years, until his death at age 99 in 2010. She is survived by their children, Janet Elaine Ahlquist, Carol Emily Horan, Mark Emery (Janet) Sylvester, and Susanne Eileen (Michael) Stanecki, grandchildren: Brian Emery (Shasta) Horan, Lynne Christine (John) Chomicz, Jonathan Richard (Rebecca Draeger) Horan, and Daniel Mark Sylvester; great grandchildren: Emilia and Alice Chomicz,

Tristan and Logan Horan, and Ellie Draeger, numerous nieces and nephews through the US and everyone’s canines and felines…

A celebration of Edith’s life will take place at Asbury Church, 6101 University Avenue, Madison Wisconsin at 2 o’clock PM on Sunday, October 5, 2025, Paster Paul Yoder presiding. All are welcome to attend.

Gifts may be made in memory of Edith to her favorite 501(c)(3) charities:
Samaritan’s Purse, Boone NC, or Rawhide Youth Services of New London, WI.