Sylvia Joan Shannon, 74, passed away at Weeks Medical Center on April 7th, 2015, after a very long and courageous battle with COPD. Sylvia was born in Lancaster, NH on July 11, 1940, to George Ricker and Carrie (Gathercole) Ricker. She grew up in Lancaster, but has lived most of her adult life in Stark, NH. In her younger days, Sylvia worked as a waitress at a local diner. In 1959, she married Joe Henry Shannon, and together they had three children. In addition to being a wife and a mother, Sylvia worked for a while at the Stark General Store. For years she made the lunches for the Moose Club Bingo. Later, she and her husband owned and operated the Foxy Lady Motel in Groveton, before retiring. Sylvia was well known for being a very sweet person, and always greeted people with a smile on her face, a song in her voice, and a kind word for everyone. Sylvia enjoyed playing bingo, as well as going to dances at the Moose Club and the American Legion. Sylvia always enjoyed attending the Lancaster Fair. She had a special fondness for dogs and cats, and leaves behind her beloved little dogs, Abby and Freddie, and her kitty, Molly. Sylvia was a great cook, and was well known for many tasty dishes, including her baked beans, corn chowder, homemade applesauce, strawberry-rhubarb sauce, boiled dinners, beef stew, milk gravy toast, steamers and kielbasa, cinnamon pinwheels, and homemade pies. Much to her children and grandchildren's dismay, she also loved dandelion greens, liver and onions, and fried tripe!! But, you never left hungry when you were at Sylvia's house. Sylvia was a very social person, and loved her friends and family dearly. She was especially proud of her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Sylvia was predeceased by her parents, an infant brother, and her third child, Laurie Marie Shannon. Sylvia is survived by her husband, Joe, her daughter, Terry Lee Shannon-Miles of Contoocook, NH, and her son Douglas Shannon and his wife, Roxane, of Stark, NH. She also leaves behind six grandchildren; Tanisha Shannon, Cody Shannon and wife Briana, Skye Flanders and girlfriend Gabrielle Lepine, Destiny Flanders and fiancé Zachary Pond, Hunter Shannon and Spencer Shannon. In addition, she leaves four great grandchildren, Emily and Natalie Auger, and Karter and Harper Shannon, as well as her fifth unborn, but joyously anticipated, great grandchild, in September of 2015 (if this baby is a girl, she will be given her great grammy's name, Sylvia). She also leaves behind many, many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family, and lifelong friends. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Sylvia's honor may be made to the following: A local animal shelter, the food bank at the Lancaster United Methodist Church, the American Lung Association, or the Foundation for a Smoke-free America. A celebration of her life will be held at the Stark Volunteer Fire Department on Saturday, April 11th, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. A light lunch will be served. All friends and family are welcomed to come and share memories, stories, good food, lots of hugs, love and laughter, just the way Sylvia would have wanted it to be. Armstrong-Charron Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.