Vesta Sylvester

Vesta “Tootie” Holbrook Sylvester

August 3, 1942 - November 24, 2021

The Forks - Vesta “Tootie” Mae Holbrook Sylvester, 79, passed away peacefully at Northern Light Charles A Dean Hospital on November 24, 2021.

Tootie was born at Central Maine General Hospital on August 3, 1942, to Erland C. Holbrook and Bertha E. Pulkkinen. She was one of six children. Tootie grew up in North Auburn and attended Auburn Schools. She grew up on Holbrook Farms and could often be seen working the fields and lugging 50 pound bags of potatoes, one on each shoulder. As an adult she was employed at BonAn Footwear Company where she was the Mill Room Supervisor. While she was employed there, she met her future husband’s sister who helped set them up. And it was a love story that lasted 50 years. She married Thomas E Sylvester on October 2, 1971, in Auburn. They moved to The Forks where they raised their two children, Thomas E. Sylvester II and Anna K. Sylvester, on the corner at Lake Moxie. 

She devoted her life to family and public service. She was the Third Selectman for The Forks for  many years and an active member of The Forks Fish and Game. She was always happy to help out anyone that was in need of assistance. 

She was an avid outdoorsman her entire life and was an accomplished hunter, fly fisher, and trapper. She enjoyed sharing stories of her adventures with everyone that would sit and listen to them. She loved spending time with her family camping, fishing and hunting over the years. She especially enjoyed her time camping in to Lone Jack making “Tootie Fires”, tying flies and out catching all the guys with her innovative flies that she never shared until after she had caught her share of fish with them first.  

Tootie is predeceased by the love of her life Thomas Sylvester, by 3 months. She is also predeceased by her sister Janice Holbrook. Tootie is survived by her 2 children, son Thomas E Sylvester II and his wife Heather of The Forks, and daughter Anna K. Sylvester and partner Charles Napolitano of The Forks; grandchildren Kaitlyn E. Sylvester of Illinois, Pigeon K Sylvester of The Forks and Thomas E. Sylvester III of The Forks; sisters Elizabeth Dufresne of Rochester, NH, Mae Sennett of Minot, and brothers Erland Holbrook and wife Martha of Minot and Stephen Holbrook of Minot; as well as many nieces and nephews, other family members and all of her lifelong friends.  

Per Tootie’s wishes, there will be no funeral arrangements. There will be a gathering of friends and family in the Spring. Date TBA by the family. 

If you would like to honor Tootie’s Memory and her pies that she made for the West Forks Fire Department Field Day Auction, please send donations to: West Forks Fire Benevolent Fund, PO Box 21, West Forks, Maine 04985. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Vesta Sylvester, please visit our floral store.