We lost our beloved daughter, sister and friend Sylvia (Syl) Marie Reinstra on Easter morning April 4, 2010, at Saint Joseph Hospital in Bellingham.
Sylvia was born Feb. 10, 1986 to Jon and Melinda in Sedro-Woolley, Washington. She was a 2004 graduate of Sedro-Woolley High School, where she was very involved in volleyball and softball. Sylvia was 24 and a great people person, who loved children. There wasn’t a baby or kid that didn’t know Sylvia’s love. She had the most beautiful smile, she could win anyone over with that smile and kind eyes. She had many friends and a large family that all loved her very much. She had many interests and loved to try new things. She enjoyed playing sports, camping, hiking, riding quads (she loved going fast and seeing what she could do,) being with her family and hanging out with her sisters, cousins and friends.
She worked as a waitress and bartender. She was employed by Jack-in-the-Box, Subway, Cascade Pizza in Bellingham, and most recently at Knives and Forks as a bartender in Mount Vernon.
She leaves behind a heartbroken family. Her father and mother Jon and Melinda Reinstra; her sisters Sasha Rehagen and her husband Dustin, and their children Alannah, and Carson, and Gabrielle Clay and her husband Elijah; her boyfriend Jerry Franklin II, and his daughter Kaliyah Franklin; grandparents Maxine Arnold Stokes, and Glenn and Vesta Reinstra; aunts and uncles Carl Reinstra, Tammie and Ken Neveskie, Becky and Don White, Marvin and Joyce Mehlum, Ronnie Mehlum, Coleen Mehlum, Rhoda and Tim Haussler, Steve and Cyndy Arnold, Sandy and Bob Glover; numerous cousins, as well as many family and friends that will greatly miss her.
Sylvia will never be forgotten. Sylvia chose to be an organ donor, and in our loss of her, has, and will save the lives of many others.
Donations will be accepted for Sylvia’s expenses in a Memorial Fund in Skagit and Whatcom County Bank of America branches with any excess donated to Children’s Hospital in Seattle.
A funeral service will be held at 3:00 PM, on Wednesday, April 14, 2010, at Lemley Chapel in Sedro-Woolley. For those who wish to pay respects, viewing will be available on Monday & Tuesday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and on Wednesday from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. To view a live web cast of Sylvia’s service click on the link attached to this obituary. If you are having trouble getting access to Sylvia’s web cast the password in lemley1029
Jon and Melinda I’m sorry for your loss and I too will miss Sylvia but she’ll always be with us <3 RIP Sylvia Reinstra
Miss you so much!!! Words can’t describe how lost I am with out my sister, best friend, partner in crime, 2nd mother to my kids any left hand. Needless to say life is pretty hard with only one hand! 🙂 Love you my precious sister!!!!
Sylvia, Syl, My friend and so much more………. My Dad just passed on April 8th and I want you to give him a Big hug from his girl! I love you both! I am still mourning you and now I am mourning my father and my Uncle who passed on April 23. So make sure you give them lots of love from me! I will always miss you and you will always be my girl!
Mom, Dad, Sash, and Gabe;
I miss you all so much and I wish I was there to hold you or give you words of encouragement but I am coming just to love you and to see Syl.. even though I can talk to her anywhere i am but I want to be in WA with you all to do that! i love you so much and thank you so much for giving me Syl!
may the GOD of all comfort,comfort you in all your tribulation that we may be able to comfort those in any sort of tribulation(2 cor.1:3,4.
may the GOD of all comfort,comfort you in all your tribulation that we may be able to comfort those in any sort of tribulation(2 cor.1:3,4)
Sylvia you will be missed by so many. You were a beautiful, strong, girl in highschool and my best friend, I only wish we hadn’t drifted apart during the years so that I could’ve known the woman you’ve become. I will miss you and my love goes out to your family.
Reinstra Family,
I am truly sorry for your loss, and pray that you will have peace. I saw Sylvia in Bellingham one night a couple years ago and it was the first time I had seen her since High School, I remember her walking up to me and being so excited to see me and we talked for quite awhile. She was such a sweet and welcoming person and I am happy to have known her growing up.
We love you and miss you and our prayers are with you.
Sylvia, you became family thru your sister, and i was so happy to have you in my life. I so enjoyed the times we worked on wedding stuff, and then just sewing or working in the craft room. I will miss your visits, and conversations. We will miss you.
We truely love you guys and are torn to pieces from the loss of Sylvia. She had suych an amazing heart and soul. Children loved her, she was amazing. She will forever be in our hearts and minds and souls. She is among the angels now looking down from heaven watching all of her loved ones in a better place. The Lord will hold and embrace her with loveing arms and will never let her go. We love you Syl you will forever live on.
Jon and Melinda,
I was shocked to hear the news I am so very sorry for your loss. Sylvia will be very much missed she was such a fun girl to be around. You all will be in my prayers
Sweet Sylvia,
I know I only knew you for a short time but we clicked and talked about alot.I will really miss you.You were not only my bartender but friend and I am at least lucky to have met you.Your smile brightens the room and your presence just made me smile as well as many others.I am putting up a plaque in your honor in our lounge so I can always look at it,I will never forget you.You are 1 of a kind.I will miss you Syl very very much
xoxo
Rhoda Tim and family,
my heart goes out to you all.
All our love Marcy Eric Jim & Danielle
Jon and Melinda,
We are so sorry to hear about the loss of your daughter Sylvia. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Dear Sylvia,
This is one of the hardest things I have ever had to do! It just doesnt seem real! I keep thinking that you will be down to visit me, Bill and the girls, and laugh and have a pleasant time. You always seemed to help Bill cope with life, and guide him in the right direction…..I love you for the person you were…..you always put others first! You will always be in our hearts! LOVE YOU SYLVIA!
To my beautiful cousin Sylvia
who was more like a sister to most that knew her
with your long flowing blonde locks and ivory skin
you must be the most beautiful Angel
smiling down on all of us
who are here still missing you!
REST IN PEACE SWEET SYLVIA….
Oh dear sylvia, we will miss you so dearly, more than you will ever know, you touched my family’s life in the best way possible in life, your kind gentle smile, and caring eyes are the things that I will miss and your generosity, the most, fair well there friend until we meet again,
to the Reinstra family my heart goes to all of you in this hard time in life, I’m praying for all of you,
Jon and Melinda ,
My heart goes out to you. Please know you are in my thoughts and prayers.
Sylvia always had the brightest smile and laugh. She was so full of life…. it was infectious. You couldn’t be around her and not laugh yourself. She was always up to something or going somewhere, living life to the fullest. My heart goes out to her sisters and mom and dad. A big hug to you all.
Jon and Melinda,
Our thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family.
Even though I only had the privledge of meeting Sylvia a few times, the memory of her contagious laugh, her smile and the excitment she brought to everyone around her will be remembered.
Always remember that you have friends and we are here for you, so if there is anything you need, please don’t hesitate to ask.
Dear Jon & Melinda
Our thoughts & prayers are with you during your time of sorrow. I can’t tell you enough how much she meant to us. We will always remember for her smiles and laughter. For all the times she would take Mykenna and do things with her. Mykenna wants me to let you know how much she loved Sylvia she cries about how much she loved her. She said when she goes to Washington it won’t be the same with her gone. We love you very much. Hugs to all of you.
My Dear Niece, Sylvie,
I is difficult for me to fathom how this could happen to you. You were such a bright shinning star, an important part of everyone who knew you. You believed in unconditional, unbending love, especially for children. My reasoning, and the only way I can deal with this, is to think that God needed more teachers in heaven for the children. Everyone knew – without a doubt – that they were loved by you. You were the kind of person who could put yourself in others people’s shoes and nudge them in the right direction. You always believed in helping others, Selflessly putting others before yourself. There are many things you stood for in each of our hearts that we will have to discover or rediscover for ourselves. I hope that each of us can take something from you goodness to make us stronger and better.
I know that traveling from Connecticut to Washington State to visit with the family will never be the same for us without seeing your shinning smile and tasting you delicious chicken enchiladas. I will miss you terribly. You were such a beautiful person.
Jon, Melinda and Family
I’m so sorry to hear of the loss of your Sylvia. I know for certain that we never lose the people we love, even to death. They continue to live through us in every act, thought and decision we make. You both are in my thoughts