Sylvia Ward... gifted seamstress, quilter; at 87

ROCHESTER - Sylvia P. Desmarais Ward, a lifelong resident of Rochester, NH, passed away May 2, 2026 at Genesis Healthcare Facility in Rochester after a lengthy illness. Born on July 24, 1938, to Arthur J. Portrie and Doris M. (Minnon) Portrie.

Sylvia attended Rochester school, after her schooling she worked at Maybury Shoe Shop where she met her first love Joseph (Sylvio) E. Desmarais, they were married on June 8, 1958. Their newlywed status was put on hold for a bit where Joe was drafted in 1961 and spent two years in Germany for the US Army. After his return they started planning a family and adopted two daughters. Sylvia worked nights stitching from home so that she was able to be home to take care of her young children.

Later she went back to work in various shoe shops in the local area. She retired July of 1995 to pursue her dreams of doing seamstress work and taking care of her grandsons Adam and Kyle. Sylvia was a very talented seamstress and quilter. She was active in the Rochester Emblem Club (Elks 1393) where she and Joe made a lot of lasting friendships.

A few years after her husband's death on February 10, 2004, she was introduced by mutual friends to Robert A. Ward and they were married on December 18, 2007.

Sylvia was an election official for many local elections. She became a Selectman for Ward 4 and served for 6 years until her health started to decline.

She was predeceased by her parents along with her first husband Joseph S.E. Desmarais of 45 years, and second husband Robert A. Ward. Her siblings, Norman Portrie, Carol Gagnon and brother in-law Arthur Gagnon, Mary Baribeault and brother in-law Robert Baribeault.

She is survived by daughters Lisa Desmarais and husband Tim Morgan, Nancy Carignan and husband Michael Carignan, grandsons Adam Carignan and partner Jennifer Ordway, Kyle Carignan., nephew Robert (Rob) Gagnon. A special niece Leslie Nichols and husband Kevin, great nieces Morgan Kusheba and Naomi Nichols. She also leaves behind many nieces, nephews and many close friends.