Sylvia Tompkins

Sylvia Marie (Dorries) Tompkins passed away peacefully April 27, 2024 surrounded by her three children and three granddaughters. Born October 13, 1931, in Schenectady NY, she had been living in Westport for the past 20 years and appreciated the beauty of this area.

After graduation from Mt Pleasant High School in Schenectady, she attended St Lawrence University where she earned a degree in Psychology.

She loved all kinds of music especially classical and pop and helped instill an appreciation for music in her children. She played the piano and violin in her younger years. Sylvia was very interested in politics and followed world events closely. She was passionate about social justice causes and supporting them. She played Bridge on a regular basis and was a substitute player for the clubs in Westport.

She couldn't get enough World War 2 movies and when she wasn't reading a biography, she was reading a World War 2 history book.

She and her husband, Robert, raised their family in Watertown NY where she worked for Jefferson County in the Department of Social Services as a social worker and then as a computer programmer.

She also worked for Planned Parenthood in Watertown and was a champion for women's rights.

In her retirement years she worked part-time as a bookkeeper for an animal shelter and was a regular as an Election Day worker.

Sylvia was preceded in death by her first husband Robert S. Tompkins; her second husband Frank Howland; her sister Nola Claire; daughters-in-law Marianne Tompkins and Kathy Tompkins; and a son-in-law Bruce Ware.

She is survived by her three children Andrew Tompkins, Carolyn Ware and Jennifer (Dan) Tompkins; her grandchildren Nathan (Tracy), Maria, Emily, Madeline (Timothy), and Alan (Rosa); and three great-grandchildren.

The family would like to acknowledge the compassionate care provided by the nursing staff of both the Elizabethtown Community Hospital and High Peaks Hospice. The kindness they showed to our beloved mother in her last few weeks of life did not go unnoticed and will always be cherished.

In accordance with her wishes, there will be no services.

Memorial contributions may be made in Sylvia's honor to High Peaks Hospice, 1247 Dix Ave., Hudson Falls, NY 12839, the Westport Library Association, PO Box 436, Westport, NY 12993 or Planned Parenthood North Country NY, Inc, 66 Brinkerhoff St. Plattsburgh, NY 12901.

Arrangements were entrusted to Heidrick Funeral Home, 7521 Court St., Elizabethtown, NY.