Van Buren--- Sylvia Hebert, 77, peacefully passed away March 3, 2023, at a Caribou hospital, with her loving family at her side. She was born November 25, 1945, in Drummond, NB, Canada, a daughter of the late Edmond and Lina (Beaulieu) Laforest.

Sylvia was a French Literature teacher in Grand Falls, NB, Canada, and saw to instructing drama and English classes. For more than 25 years she was a passionate volunteer for New Brunswick and Canadian Figure Skating Associations, earning awards National Accountant of the Year, Volunteer of the Year (New Brunswick) among several other recognitions. In Van Buren, she was a longtime volunteer with Friends of the Library, Van Buren Recreation Department, and assisted in the grant writing of Van Buren's beautification project in 1998.  Sylvia was passionate about education for herself, her children, and all she met along the way, and loved to express herself through many arts, such as painting and creative writing.

She was a parishioner of St. Bruno-St. Remi Church, Van Buren, where she loved to volunteer for the parish Mercy Meals, and she was a lifelong Columbiette of the Knights of Columbus.

She is survived by her husband of over 51 years, John H. Hebert Sr. of Van Buren; three children, Stephanie Randall and her husband Brian of Bangor, Helene Adams and her husband John of Gorham, and John Hebert and his wife Amy of Van Buren; eight siblings, Nilda Pelletier, Odette Lagace, Irma Smith, Solange Bosse, Gaetan Laforest, Aline LeBlanc, Agathe Beaulieu, and Danielle Martin; eight grandchildren, Megan & Ian, Ben, Luke & Jack, Henry, Sam & Louie; and many nieces and nephews.

Besides her parents, Sylvia was predeceased by three siblings, Ghislaine Cote infant Albert Laforest, and infant Marcelle Laforest.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 AM on Friday, March 10, 2023, at St. Bruno-St. Remi Catholic Church, Van Buren. Relatives and friends may greet the family Thursday 6 – 8:00 PM and Friday morning 8:30 – 9:30 am at Lajoie Funeral Home, 118 High St., Van Buren. In lieu of flowers, donations in Sylvia's name may be made to: Van Buren Library, 153 Main St., Van Buren, ME 04785.