Sylvia Agler of Hingham, MA and Amherst NH, passed away peacefully on January 12, 2026, surrounded by her 3 children, Alison McSweeney, Tim and Leigh. She will be missed by her son-in-law, Edward (Biff) McSweeney, her 3 grandchildren and their spouses; Ian and Liz (Cook) McSweeney, Marney (McSweeney) and Harley Baker, and Ross and Kelly (Simon) McSweeney. Sylvia was referred to as GG by her 6 great grandchildren; Dylan & Bridger McSweeney, Audrey and Julia Baker, and Fiona and Caleb McSweeney and will be greatly missed by all.
Many years ago, one of GG’s great-grandchildren announced as she was blowing out the many candles on her birthday cake at her annual birthday celebration that she would live to 100… and she did!
Sylvia was born on August 26, 1925, in Providence, RI. to the late Edward and Edith Peters. She was also predeceased by her siblings, John Peters and Jean (Peters) and her husband Dave Macfarlane. She was also predeceased by her loving husband of 66 years, Robert (Bob) Agler.
She met the love of her life, Bob, while they both were students at Swarthmore College. She earned a degree in psychology. They married and eventually moved to Hingham where they raised their 3 children along with their 3 dogs named Muffin, Biscuit, and Crumb.
Sylvia, the first to say, “I don’t know what I’m doing”, lovingly raised her children (for about a year and 1/2 by herself while her husband was hospitalized), cared for her parents, assisted her brother’s son, and worked in the public schools and town libraries. One summer, she drove her 3 young children across the country and back by herself stopping along the way to camp and visit the national parks and monuments. She strongly believed that her children be exposed to and experience all that the country had to offer. She passed on a love of the arts, reading, and nature as she encouraged a sense of curiosity to her family.
Later, she and her husband moved to Amherst, N.H. where she continued her love of gardening, and worked as a book keeper for the local library. She loved to ski, play tennis, and walk the beach. An artist at heart, though she would never have called herself that, she took painting lessons and produced many amazing paintings. She loved to explore and with her husband traveled the back roads and canoed the local rivers. They traveled to England and Europe courtesy of their son. One of their favorite trips was to Japan where they had a chance to stay in a traditional inn and enjoy an onsen, a hot spring, joined by their youngest daughter.
When they moved back to Hingham and settled into the life at Linden Ponds she continued with her love of gardening and became active member of the community garden there.
She was a strong-willed, determined, caring and at times impish individual who will be missed by all. She was a true matriarch, and we were all lucky and blessed to have so many years together.
Many thanks to the staff at Linden Ponds / Rose Court who supported and cared for her in the recent years.
A memorial service and burial will be private. Memorial donations may be sent to www.thefarmerslandtrust.org, or by mail to The Farmers Land Trust c/o Kristina Villa P.O. box 195, Cookeville, Tennessee 38503.
For more information and online guestbook go to www.downingchapel.com