NAPLES — Debora J. (Barker) Sylvester, 64, of Naples, passed away Saturday, March 18, 2023, at Maine Medical Center surrounded by family and close friends.

Debbie was born March 5, 1959, to Almon and Norine (Sturgis) Barker. She grew up in Naples and graduated from Lake Region High School with the class of 1977.

She married Robert Nyren in 1978, and they had four children. Debbie and Robert divorced in 1994. In 2003, Debbie married Donald Sylvester, who later died the same year.

Debbie built a career as a Lead Dental Assistant at Prosthodontics Associates in Portland for more than 20 years. During that time, she had multiple roles at the office and formed many lasting relationships with co-workers and patients. She helped organize annual office events to raise awareness for Donate Life, a cause very close to her heart, which promotes organ and tissue donation. Debbie was diagnosed with end stage liver disease (NASH) in June 2022, and some of her last wishes were to give of herself what she was able.

Always with a song in her heart, Debbie loved music. She played clarinet in the Bridgton Community Band for several years and encouraged her children to join. Debbie loved com- munity. She spent many years working and volunteering at the Naples Public Library, as a part of parent groups, volunteering in local schools and at her church, and coaching youth sports. She loved her friends and her co-workers.

Above all, Debbie loved her family. She devoted her life to raising her children and took pride in being a grandmother. She always made herself present and available for as many of her children’s and grandchildren’s events as possible. She cherished her brother and sisters, and she was always excited to gather with extended family for reunions.

Debora is missed and survived by her daughters, Lisa Newcomb, of Portland, Maine; Michelle Nyren of Naples; Ann Nyren and son Jacob Lowberg of Raymond; and son Patrick Nyren of Hanover, Md., his wife Erin Nyren, and their three children: Liam, Norah, and Elizabeth; brother, David (Donna) Barker of Bridgton, and sisters Linda (Mike) Koloski of Colorado Springs, Colo.; Rosalie Fredericks of Lewiston; Bette (Steve) York of Freeport, and Janet (Peter) Richardson of Wilmington, N.C.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Joyce Barker.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the American Legion Hall in Naples on Sunday, May 7, 2023, at 12:30 p.m. Arrangements are in the care of the Hall Funeral Home, 165 Quaker Ridge Road, Casco. www.hallfuneralhome.net.