Sylvia Nichols (nee Rhone) passed from this life on November 1, 2022, at the age of 90. She was the daughter of Thomas C. Rhone and Phoebe Davis Rhone. Sylvia was the eldest of three. Her siblings were the late Thomas Rhone, Jr., and surviving brother, James Rhone. James is married to Nan Rudd and they have two children and two grandchildren.

Sylvia married Elmo Nichols and they had two children, Glenn and Patricia. Patricia and her late husband, Carsten Maffei, provided Sylvia with the only grandchild, Elizabeth, who often traveled with her grandmother after Sylvia retired and Elmo had passed. Sylvia often reflected on how much she’d enjoyed traveling through Asia with Elizabeth on the famed Orient Express just a few years ago. She and Elmo had also traveled extensively together to destinations such as Europe and Africa and she loved cruising with her daughter Pat and her husband Carsten Maffei.

Sylvia enjoyed a long career teaching in Philadelphia public schools and was an alum of Temple University having earned both undergrad and graduate degrees there. She was a proud member of Sigma Gamma Rho sorority and was active for decades in The Girls Friendly Society of St. Simon the Cyrenian Episcopal Church, which was her parish for most of her married life. In later years Sylvia returned to her Baptist roots by attending Nazarene Baptist in Germantown. She will be greatly missed by all who were fortunate enough to have known her. 

Relatives and Friends are invited to attend Sylvia’s Viewing from 9 to 11 AM on Tuesday, November 8, 2022, Nazarene Baptist Church, 3975 Germantown Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19140. Her Service will follow beginning at 11 AM. Pastor Keith Marshall William’s, Sr, will officiate. Interment will be at Fairview Cemetery in Willow Grove.