Sydna M. Demerchant

Sydna was born April 25, 1937 in Fort Fairfield, Maine, daughter of the late Maudie Goodwin and Harry McGarrigle. She graduated from Fort Fairfield High School as valedictorian and was a Queen of the annual Fort Fairfield Potato Blossum Festival.

She is predeceased by her husband of 67 years Derald DeMerchant. Upon marrying Derald she moved to Terryville CT in 1958 where they lived and raised their family until 2020 when Sydna (Syd) and Derald (Dave) moved to Bozrah CT to be closer to family.

Sydna was primarily a housewife but later was a caregiver to three wonderful sisters Tracie, Katie and Jenna Klimkoski.

She leaves behind her son Mark DeMerchant of Norwich CT, wife Carole and grandchildren Mandy, Eric and Tyler, as well as son Grant DeMerchant of Southington CT and wife Suzanne, one brother James McGarrigle, half-sister Elizabeth Lawrence, and half-brothers Dale and David McGarrigle, nephews Stephen McGarrigle and Larry DeMerchant and niece Joyce Fowler. She also leaves behind her lifelong best friend Millie Maxim. She is predeceased by her mother and stepfather Maudie and Richard Goodwin, father and stepmother Harry and Minnie McGarrigle, numerous aunts and uncles including her favorite aunt, Thelma Ireland. Sydna was also predeceased by long time family friend Patricia Harlow.

Sydna had many interests and hobbies including playing card and board games of any kind, playing piano and singing, making home decorations, bird watching, gardening, and was a member of the Junior Women’s Club. When the weather was warm, she and Dave enjoyed a cocktail under the backyard trees or on the home patio. She loved to host parties with friends and family and spending time with family. She and Dave loved to travel. They would frequently go to Maine to visit family. They would spend summers at the family cottage on Long Lake in ME or at Squam Lake in NH, or on Cape Cod. They spent a lot of time with Maudie and Richard, with whom they were very close. They spent winters in Florida for many years.

Syd and Dave where inseparable for 70 years until Dave’s passing last year. They thoroughly enjoyed each other’s love and companionship for all those years. Syd and Dave are now back together again to enjoy each other’s company for eternity. They are likely in the Fort Fairfield or Terryville section of heaven and are most likely talking, playing a game of cribbage, working on a crossword puzzle, or enjoying an afternoon under the shade of an oak tree.

In lieu of flowers donations may be given to the Alzheimer’s Association.

A graveside service with military honors for Derald and Sydna will be held on Thursday, October 8th at 1PM at the State Veterans Cemetery 317 Bow Lane, Middletown, CT.