Helen Yarnell Sylvester

Helen Yarnell Sylvester, 95 of Arcola, IL passed away at 9:24 AM on Friday, November 7, 2025, at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center in Mattoon, IL.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. on Friday, November 14, 2025, at the Edwards Funeral Home, 221 East Main in Arcola, IL. Graveside service will be held on Sunday, November 16, 2025, at 1:00 P.M. in the Arcola Cemetery.

Helen was born on March 30, 1930, in Tuscola, IL. She was a daughter of Glenn Clayton and Gladys Yarnell (Hunt) Thomas. She married Howard Wesley “Gene” Sylvester on July 20, 1950, in Arcola, IL. He passed away on April 13, 2022.

She is survived by two sons, Mike Sylvester of Charleston, IL and Larry Sylvester and his wife Pam of Buckner, IL, five grandchildren, Toby Sylvester of Charleston, IL, Troy Sylvester and his wife Christi of Tuscola, IL, April Eaton and her husband Brad of Neoga, IL, John Sylvester and his wife Kate of Bloomington, IL and Mandy Sylvester of Thompsonville, IL, fourteen great grandchildren, Josie Sylvester of Charleston, IL, Tristan Brown and his wife, Sydney of Champaign, IL, Alex and Colton Sylvester of Charleston, IL Janessa Sylvester and Mathew Morgan of Tuscola, IL, Braden Eaton (Makayla Garcia) of Mattoon, IL, Chase Eaton (Andrea Fortner) of Pana, IL, Landen Eaton, Gracie Eaton and Jesse “Rylan” Eaton all of Neoga, IL, Olivia Mae Sylvester of Bloomington, IL Braxton and Connor Householder both of Thompsonville, IL; four great-great- grandchildren, Wesley and Jaelynn Sylvester, Connor Morgan and Wynn Brown; siblings, Harold Thomas of Philo, IL, and two sisters, Carole Olson of Leverett, IL and Sandra Campbell of Urbanna, IL

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Gene Sylvester, one son, Virgil Sylvester, and his wife Janice, three brothers, Glenn Thomas Jr., Paul Thomas, and Gary Thomas, and one sister, Patty Hanners.

Helen graduated from Tuscola High School in 1948. She met her husband Gene Sylvester while working at Collegiate Cap & Gown in Arcola, IL. Gene worked in maintenance and Helen was a seamstress. They were married in 1950. Shortly after getting married Helen went to work at Fishel’s Nursing Home in Arcola. She worked at Morgan’s Cleaners in Arcola from 1959 to 1961. She went back to work at Collegiate Cap & Gown in Arcola and retired from there with over 20 years of service. After she retired, she helped her sister, Patty clean homes in Champaign, IL. Helen also sold Avon in the early 70s.

Helen and Gene hand crocheted “rag rugs” for many years. They used to always play cards, but Yahtzee was Helen’s favorite game to play. Helen was very musically inclined. She could play the piano, organ, guitar, harmonica, and was known to harmonize with her son Virgil while playing cards.

Helen and Gene used to always maintain a big garden, many years maintaining 4 gardens in 4 different locations. They always enjoyed fishing, camping, and mushroom hunting. Helen and Gene took mushroom hunting to a whole new level, they would drive, sometimes over 100 miles, to hunt the elusive-morel mushroom. They also enjoyed bird watching, particularly the owls that used to live in the trees at the old park in Arcola down from their home.

Her main satisfaction and what she always looked forward to was simply being with her family.