Sylvia M. Wade

Feb 6, 1935 -

May 22, 2022

Sylvia Mead Wade passed away on Sunday, May 22, 2022, in Medford, Ore., from complications due to COVID-19. Sylvia had a wonderful laugh, a playful, open and curious approach to the world, a keen ability to engage people in good conversation and storytelling, and a passion for reading, books and ideas. She will be deeply missed by her children, grandchildren and countless friends and family.

The youngest child of John and Marion McCabe, Sylvia was born on Feb. 6, 1935, in Belfield, N.D. The family was snowbound when Sylvia was born prematurely; she spent her first weeks of life in a shoebox placed in an oven warming drawer.

Sylvia moved to Medford with her family in 1940. She graduated from Medford High School, attended Rosary College in River Forest, Ill., and graduated with a B.A. from Seattle University.

She married Bernard P. Kelly on Oct. 5, 1957, in Medford; she and the couple's four children moved to Anchorage, Alaska, in 1970. Later, Sylvia married Hugh G. "Jerry" Wade on Feb. 14, 1979, and helped raise his three children from a prior marriage. She later moved back to Medford with Jerry in 2014.

Sylvia was an active member of Medford's Colony Club. She loved playing party and duplicate bridge - she was a Life Master - and enjoyed a fierce game of gin rummy or hearts with her family and friends.

Sylvia is survived by her immediate family: daughter, Deirdre Kelly with husband David Beers and children Nora and Quinn of Vancouver, B.C.; sons, Edward of Orlando, Fla., and Matthew Kelly of Reno, Nev.; daughter, Marion Kelly and husband Ed Rais of Anchorage; stepson, Hugh J. Wade and granddaughter Kyla Mae of Anchorage; stepdaughter, Megan Wade with husband David Schroeder and son Charlie of Chicago; stepdaughter, Greta Wade with husband Laurent Dick and son Florian of Anchorage; and brother-in-law. John P. "Jack" Cooney of Medford.

Sylvia was preceded in death by her husband, Jerry Wade; her parents; brother, Stephen McCabe; and sister, Eleanor Cooney.

Celebrations of life will be held in Anchorage as well as at the Colony Club in Medford on dates to be decided.