Sylvia Lillian Rathburn

October 5, 1937 - May 25, 2016

SOUTH NEWBURY, VT - Sylvia Lillian Rathburn of South Newbury, Vt, passed away surrounded by her family at DHMC on the evening of May 25, 2016. Sylvia was born on October 5, 1937, in East Orange, Vt., the daughter of Earl and Irene (Clark) Eastman.Sylvia attended Bradford Academy before going to nursing school in Bennington, Vt. She worked as an LPN at Cottage Hospital for 39 years, then retired to travel and spend more time with her grandchildren, but remained in close contact with her nursing friends. She was a great cook, and loved to bake, can, and pickle, as well as try out new recipes and teach others to cook. She loved television and movies, and enjoyed reading and sharing romance novels, as well as planning and attending parties. She threw many - bonfire/sliding parties, box supper parties, reunion, birthday, Halloween, and annual New Year's Eve parties. Taking care of people was her passion, and family was her priority.She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Otis Rathburn, and her three children, Anthony Earl Rathburn and wife Glenda Keal, Debra Rathburn Reeves and husband Bill, and Thomas Glen Rathburn and wife Caryn Danz, and six grandchildren, Jason, Joel (and wife Erika),Noah, Meredith, Nicole, and Jessica, and three great grand-daughters, Matilda, Aurora, and Ida. She also leaves behind her best friend, Bertha Stevens, her brother Billy Eastman, and sisters Barbara Martin and Virginia Wheeler, and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her older sister, Margaret Kennedy.Hales Funeral Home was in charge of the graveside service, held on May29 at 10am in the Upper Plain cemetery in Bradford. A gathering to celebrate Sylvia's life followed at the Rathburn home.To view an online guestbook go to www.halefuneralhomes.com To plant Memorial Trees in memory of Sylvia Lillian Rathburn, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.