She grew up in Riverside, the daughter of George and Minnie (Honsberger) Kitson.
She was a deacon and elder at Cleveland Drive Presbyterian Church in Cheektowaga for more than 50 years. Sylvia was a business representative for New York Telephone business office on Elmwood Avenue for 20 years and worked for Tops Markets in Amherst for many years.
Sylvia was predeceased by her husband, Charles A. Barwell and George, James, Edith, Leslie, Herbert (Bud), Fred, and Marie.
Members of her family include her son, Michael Barwell of Hopkinton, NH; daughter, Kimberley Leonardi of Topsfield, MA; six grandchildren, Peter, John, Matthew, Elizabeth, Clifford and Gregory and four great-grandchildren.
Memorial services will be scheduled at a later date in Buffalo, NY.