Sylvia Lindquist
Sylvia died peacefully on May 7, 2014, after 87 years of living and giving to others. She was a Santa Barbara resident for 45 years. She was born and raised in Dillon, Montana. Sylvia spoke Danish until she attended a one room schoolhouse.
She loved everything Danish, cooking red cabbage and AEbleskiver, and traveled to Denmark to visit relatives. She was a past president of the Danish Sisterhood and “sister of the year” of California, president of local DSS lodge #165 and the Danish Brotherhood.
She married Bill and over 14 years they had 6 children. They lived in Oxnard and enjoyed camping, neighborhood potlucks, and musical events. She was very proud of her six children, and two who became professional harpists. She enjoyed many meals from her only son, Tom, who always brought fish, abalone, elk, and venison.
In the 1970’s Sylvia moved to Santa Barbara with her 3 small children and worked as an RN at Oak Park Convalescent Hospital and Hillside House. She joined Parents without Partners and enjoyed the fun family time.
Sylvia volunteered for the Ladies of Charity at the St. Vincent de Paul Society. She was honored as the volunteer of the year in 2013. She just loved the sisters. She just gave and gave and gave of her time and her love. She nursed her daughter Peggy through a serious illness and will always be her greatest hero.
She adored all her grandchildren and took trips to New York, Alaska, Oregon, San Francisco and Trinidad, California to visit them. She loved watching Olympic ice skating, classical music concerts, knitting, needlework, gardening, tea parties, Montana and Denmark. She made famous jam, from fruit she grew, and the best lemon meringue pies ever.
Sylvia made friends wherever she went, the YMCA water aerobics class and woodworking class. She was a mom to untold thousands.
She was predeceased by her daughter Claudia. She is loved by her five children Karen, Susan, Tom, Peggy and Ellen, eleven grandchildren, two great grandchildren and relatives in America and Denmark. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Ladies of Charity, or any charity of your choice. Services are Friday May 16 at St. Raphael’s at 2:00 pm.