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Sylvia Joy Lunden

Born at her grandmother’s home in Quincy, Massachusetts, Sylvia was the oldest child of Selim O. Lunden and Vivian (Ostlund) Lunden.

Her childhood memories were some of her most cherished — attending the one-room schoolhouse in South Windsor, picking strawberries at “camp” during the war years, organizing events, and being prom queen at her much loved Hall High School. She studied at UConn and went on to airline school, prepping to be a stewardess. When she married in 1956, airline rules put her at a ticket desk, but her people and organizational skills were attributes that were evident throughout her life.

Sylvia raised her three children in Southbury and Madison, working at various office jobs for the majority of those years. She especially loved being a para at the Brown School while her children were still young. Later, her talents, hard work, and patience endeared her to hundreds of party givers and brides-to-be during her 20 years at the local Elks Club. When Sylvia became single again, dating and dancing renewed her joy. Her grace while waltzing was as lovely as her happiness while jitterbugging.

Sylvia’s last years were made difficult with the onset of Alzheimer’s in her 80s. As a family, we were fortunate to keep her at home until this past year. Her lifelong collection of tag sale treasures, antique finds, and personal mementos surrounded her. Her dogs, her family, and her caregiver, Minda, all contributed to maintaining her quality of life. Her love for us — always given, never earned — and ours for her, never faltered. Her strength supported us.

Sylvia was predeceased by her brother Selim A. Lunden of King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, and by her former husband, Gilbert Emack of Old Saybrook. She is survived by her children, Keith Emack of Essex, Karen Emack-Dolson and her husband Peter Dolson of Old Saybrook, Kristen Joy Emack and her children, Nikolas and Appaloosa, of Cambridge, Massachusetts; her brother Lawrence Lunden of West Hartford; as well as nephews, their families, and cousins.

A private celebration of life will be held this spring. In honor of Sylvia’s memory, be kind towards family, friends, strangers, or others; kindness is what she would wish for. “Rest in peace, Sylvia.”