Sylivo Hamel was born in Chicopee, Massachusetts on February 19, 1923 to Dorila Hamel and Eva Sansoucy. He was the seventh of twelve children - one of nine boys and three girls.

At the age of 15, Sylvio joined the Civilain Conservation Corps (CCCs) to serve his country and to help his family through the final years of the Depression. At 17 years of age, he joined the U.S. Naval Service to help defend our nation during World War II. After the war, he came home and began his career with the government as a photolithographer. There, he met and married Genevieve Dubois, his beautiful bride from New Bedford.

Sylvio and Genevieve lived in Springfield, Massachusetts for the first several years of their married life. There, they had five of their six children: Michelle, Denise, Camille, Paul and Elizabeth. In 1967 they relocated to the warmer climes of Orlando, Florida where their sixth child, Jacqueline, was born.

Sylvio retired in 1981 with 36-years of government service. He continued to work on-and-off, and particularly enjoyed his time as a landscaper in the community where he and Genevieve retired.

Sylvio was a very loving and active man. He was devoted to his wife, children, ten grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. Aside from his family, his passions included dancing, landscaping, listening to music, and spending time at the beach. Two of his many talents included baking incredible apple pies, and playing a mean game of tennis, which he did till the age of 78 when he experienced what would be come a series of debilitating strokes.

Even as his mobility declined, he never gave up the hope to dance again. While he never fully achieved that dream, his spirit, determination, generosity and passion for life will continue to dance within all who knew and loved him.

Sylvio passed away in Orlando, Florida on February 2, 2006 at the age of 82 surrounded by his loving family.