Sylvia Ann Melton

Sylvia Ann Melton, age 77, of Redding, California passed away on Wednesday, March 5, 2025. Sylvia was the oldest of five sisters. She is survived by her three youngest sisters, her daughter, her two grandchildren, and her niece.

Sylvia was an incredibly strong and caring woman. Her influence will be felt by many for generations.

Sylvia was the first in her family to get a college degree, an impressive feat for a young woman who had been born in a dirt-floor cabin in the Magazine Mountains. She was a life-long RN who spent decades at both ends of the life spectrum, helping mothers bringing their babies into this world and later, helping elders pass with dignity from this world. Through her work, she was not only able to touch the lives of those families, but also mentored and was a team member for many in the medical field in our ever-growing community.

Sylvia once told her daughter that one of the reasons she was passionate about her work was because no one should die alone. We are very grateful to her medical community, the providers who cared for her these many years, and the teams at Shasta Regional Medical Center, and the EMS folks who worked so hard to get her there, for being part of making sure she was surrounded by caring people at the end of her life.

In her direct family, Sylvia was often the glue that held us all together and supported us in being able to live the lives we chose. Her daughter, Ena, was the first in the family to get a graduate degree. She has taken her mom’s dedication to care and growth and is in the mental health field, counseling, teaching, and managing programs to help others heal and live well. Her granddaughter, Rebecca, is both a personal trainer and has earned her masters degree in film and communication. She is creating stories for film that allow others to see and understand difficult topics in new and more empathetic ways. She carries her grandma’s love of film and story with compassion, and a dedication to helping others learn and grow in their wellness journey. Her grandson, Brendon, earned his doctorate and is impacting our ability to grow sustainable and healthy foods throughout the agricultural industry. He carries forward her love of plants, knowledge of health and wellness, and the ability to help others understand complex topics in ways that make sense for them.

As with all families, there were intricate dynamics that sometimes made relationships challenging. There never was any question of love and support within those relationships though. Her sisters Elaine, Kathy, and Toni, her niece Rachel, and Ena, Becca, and Brendon will miss her immensely. We love you, Mom. Thank you for being our strength and our compassion all of these years. We will do our best to carry your legacy.

Please make donations in lieu of flowers to Far Northern Regional Center. You can donate on their website at this link: https://www.farnorthernrc.org/about-us/donate/. If you don’t have a preference, please donate “unrestricted” and note “In memory of Sylvia Melton”. Our family thanks you for your consideration and generosity.