Sylvia J. Buchholtz

Sylvia June Buchholtz, née Setters, of Newcastle WA, passed away on November 8th, 2023 at the age of 94. Sylvia was born on June 4th, 1929 in Spokane, WA, to Helen (Wyrick) Setters and James “Jim” Setters of Endicott WA. Sylvia was one of four sisters – Dorothy Hodgson, Barbara Talsma (Syvia’s twin), and Helen Jane Hughes – growing up together on the family’s wheat farm.

Sylvia graduated from Winona High School (1947) in a class of three, then attended Whitworth College and Deaconess School of Nursing, in Spokane, where she roomed with her twin sister as they both received Bachelor’s of Nursing degrees and RN certification. Sylvia met her husband, the late Alvin Buchholtz, at a roller-skating party their first month at Whitworth, when Al’s friend asked him to skate with the red-headed girl so he could skate with her blond friend. Al and Sylvia hit it off, dated throughout college, and married in 1951 at 22 years old. They were married for 69 years.

Sylvia worked as a hospital pediatric nurse in Seattle and Renton for 25 years, and also nursed family and friends in times of need. When Sylvia paused her career to raise her children, she frequently joined Boy and Girl Scout trips as the nurse and taught many to be prepared for medical emergencies. Her steadiness in crisis, resilience, compassion, and professional skills served her both at work and in her role as unofficial neighborhood nurse.

Everyone knew Sylvia as an earnest, humble, and selfless person with a deep sense of responsibility to care for her community. She always went out of her way to ensure other people’s wellbeing. Sylvia and Al were known for decades as the hub for a warm and boisterous set of family and friends. Sylvia cherished her extended circle of siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles, and dear friends throughout her life.

Sylvia was a pillar of her community. She was an active member of the P.E.O. International organization supporting women’s lifelong education, volunteered with Girl Scouts and other organizations, and opened her home and offered her help to those in need.

What Sylvia cherished most was a living room full of loved ones, sated with good food and exchanging laughter and stories. Sylvia expressed her creativity and love through cooking, sewing, and crafts. She baked everyone’s favorite pies, cookies, and candies for holiday dinners, and set a sumptuous table. She always had a stash of candies on the table for visitors. Canning fruits and making jam with children and grandchildren, using produce from family gardens, was an annual event. Sylvia sewed her own wedding dress, and made beautiful aprons, suits, dresses, draperies, and other creations for her family. Sylvia and Al also learned to make jewelry and enjoyed running a hobby jewelry business together.

She and Al loved to travel, both visiting family and friends in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska, and exploring the rest of the country on annual road trips. In retirement, they made frequent trips to Hawaii and loved to sit together looking at the ocean. They also enjoyed spending time among the cedars on the Olympic peninsula with friends.

Sylvia passed away peacefully in the presence of family in Centerville, MA on November 8, 2023 after living with Alzheimer’s disease for many years. Her husband Alvin passed away in July 2021. She leaves behind her sister Dorothy Hodgson; son Charles Buchholtz of Auburn, WA; daughter Marilyn Buchholtz ten Brink (husband Uri) of Falmouth, MA; six grandchildren (and their partners); six great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Burial and grave-side service will be held at Greenwood Memorial Park, Renton WA at 2 PM on November 17, 2023. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Seattle PBS Member Station.