Sister Sylvia was born to Wesley and Rosa Mae  Conant on January 10, 1931 in  Cane River (Natchitoches), Louisiana. She was baptized Mary Joyce on January 31 at St. Augustine Church. When Mary Joyce was ten years old, her Mother died. “Nobody’s leaving this house!” announced ten-year old Mary Joyce Conant after the death of her Mother.  She added, “I may not know how to cook, but I can learn, and we’ll be just fine.”  This announcement settled who would be in charge of family affairs since this great sadness found the Conant family--her Dad, and Mary Joyce’s five brothers, Marvin,  James Adolph, Joseph William, and the mighty twins Peter Edward, and Patrick Edwin--without a Mother. With the help of the Blessed Mother whom Mary Joyce always trusted, she and her Dad set about to rebuild a new family structure with Mary Joyce as mom, cook, housekeeper, disciplinarian, and consoler, while Dad kept the farm going. Three years later her dad married Ora Lee.  

Sister Sylvia’s brother, Patrick, shared that “Ora Lee was another Mother to her new family. She taught us to pray every night to our mother in heaven.” The family grew as they welcomed each new member--Dorothy Mae,  Betty Ann, James, and twin girls Rosa Lee and Cora Lee.  Mary Joyce was ecstatic when she finally had baby sisters to “mother!”

Besides caring for family and the home, Mary Joyce attended high school and then worked in a  doctor’s office until a cousin talked her into moving to California with her. Mary Joyce filled a basket with folded papers saying “Go to California and Don’t Go to California. Then  Mary Joyce would pull out one paper at a time, and it seemed that more “Go” papers kept  coming. She finally realized that “gambling” could lead her to the place where God wanted her to be, for her heart had already turned toward serving God in religious life! So, California would hold the answer for her.

In California, her vocation became increasingly clear, and she felt blessed to meet the Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose to whom she was greatly attracted.  On August 1, 1953, when she was twenty-three years of age, Mary Joyce entered the Congregation. On February 1, 1954, she entered the novitiate and received the religious name, Sister Sylvia. She made her first Profession on February 2, 1955.

For the rest of her life, she accepted and worked diligently, quietly, and lovingly in each ministry that was assigned to her.  Sister’s first assignment was to St. John’s Seminary of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, Camarillo, CA, where she was both cook and sacristan.  This ministry also entailed washing and ironing all the albs for the priests living there. Once she explained that her superior, Sister Leonarda, was a perfectionist who strictly instructed her in the exact way to iron the albs. Sister Sylvia never mentioned whether she got good at it, but she quietly said that she stayed there for only one year!

With her past role as loving Mom in her family, she was well prepared for ministry with orphans and children with interrupted family backgrounds. Sister Sylvia cared for young girls at the Albertinum, Ukiah, and St. Mary of the Palms, Mission San Jose, the latter within walking distance of our Motherhouse. For fourteen years she was a house mother for boys at St. Vincent’s School for Boys, San Rafael, followed by 12 years caring for young boys at St. Catherine’s Military Academy, Anaheim.

In 1996, Sister Sylvia returned to the Motherhouse to serve as sacristan, which she deeply loved and cherished. She also served as Superior of Queen of Peace Community at the Motherhouse. Her last ministry was visiting our Sisters in St. Martin’s Care Center.

Sister Sylvia’s devotion to our Blessed Mother was reflected in so many ways from early childhood on.  She once mentioned that trust in Mary was all it took, and so she expected results with any petitions laid before Our Lady. Her main petition was that Our Lady would continue to help her be a strong, faithful, religious.  Never mind health or cures or setbacks just courage and strength to serve and to accept all that God sends!  She never fought her physical limitations which were painful and limited her movement.  Instead, she merely said in a detached way that deformed hands, swallowing problems, and joint pain kept her from being active.  In the final months of her life, as she saw one of us, she would send a warm, loving smile and a cheery “hello” whether she remembered our names or not.

An amazing gift for her was the opportunity to make a pilgrimage to the shrine of Our Lady in Lourdes, France. This experience fulfilled her dream of receiving the gift of deeper faith to accept the obvious as she pondered facing her final journey someday.  Peace was poured into her gentle soul.  She was filled with all she needed to surrender herself and remain close to Jesus and Mary.  What a remarkable request!  She never prayed for a cure for her illnesses nor of adramatic healing, no plea to end pain, only to remain faithful on the journey prepared for her!

Upon learning about her death, one Sister said, “Sister Sylvia was an inspiration to me, kindhearted, and attentive to our needs. She was the most humble person I knew. No doubt she is smiling on us, praying for us from a high place in heaven.” A member of the St. Martin healthcare staff  expressed gratitude for being able to care for Sister Sylvia remarking that “she was kind, gentle, patient, always greeted us with a smile, and said “thank you” for the care we gave to her.

Sylvia, remember us in your glorious state!  Give us courage to accept, patience to endure, kindness to find humor, gentleness in touching others, courage in facing darkness, faith in believing, and love in enduring to the end. May your gentle smiling soul know eternal peace! We will surely see you again!