Sylvia Louise Rafferty Deliso

With great sadness, our family lost our mother, Sylvia Louise Rafferty Deliso, on January 14, 2025, after a long, wonderful life of 95 years. Sylvia was lovingly cared for by her son, Thomas, in her later years, at her home in Agawam. Sylvia resided in Agawam since 1955, after growing up in Holyoke, Ma, (1924) attending UMASS and marrying Benjamin Deliso. Sylvia was active in the community, involved in the past with: Agawam Library Board of Trustees, Agawam Cultural Council, Springfield Symphony Women’s League and the Weavers Guild of Springfield. Sylvia was an interesting, well-read human being with many interests in life; a student of the Italian language for many years, an accomplished master weaver, an avid reader. Louise Penny was her favorite author in her later years. She also loved knitting. Sylvia had a zest for life, was a conversationalist and always interested in learning new things. She believed in “let’s try it and see what happens. Life was doing things and Sylvia was the organizer. Sylvia traveled with Ben and family for many years, exploring the world on their trips to Europe and the Caribbean, on trips she planned in great detail from the 1950’s onward. Her last trips were to Iceland, Portugal and the Azores. Creating a home and raising four children, Sylvia’s later in life career was as a librarian, working with Shirley Richard at the Agawam Public Library, establishing the library at Heritage Academy, and finishing her career at Agawam Middle School. Sylvia was predeceased by her husband Benjamin Deliso, her son Andrew, sister Barbara Labouteley (Roger) and brother James Rafferty (Ruth). Sylvia is survived by Elizabeth Deliso (James), Thomas, and Katherine Richter (Scott). Grandchildren Samuel, Olivia and Lily, nieces Suzanne Burge (Christopher), Andrea Schuette (Rex), Logan Rafferty, and nephew Michael Rafferty (Lee). Sylvia was the daughter of John Rafferty and Bertha Beman Rafferty, a role she cherished, involved in all chapters of their lives. She will miss her “girl gang” - Ann T Hall, Patricia Bertone-Gross, Donna Scherpa and Beverly Secondo, (the traveling people), Mark Ruddock, who made her smile and nephew William (Billy) Caruana, who made her laugh. A private life celebration will be held at a later date. New England Funeral & Cremation Center, 25 Mill Street, Springfield, MA has been entrusted with the arrangements. Please visit Sylvia’s memorial page at www.nefcc.net for a full tribute and expressions of sympathy.