Noe Valley lost a longtime
friend and neighbor late last year. Many of you may remember
Sybil Abeyta. A 30-year resident of Noe Street, she could
often be seen walking near her home with her neighbor’s little
white American Eskimo dog named Mo. She also was a familiar
face on 24th Street, where she gave generously to anyone in
need who crossed her path.
Sybil was filled with wisdom and
perspective. She knew and advised many of us on the most
important parts of our lives, and was always an inspiration.
She gave in every way, freely
and unselfishly. If you needed help, Sybil would be there for
you. She would give you positive encouragement if you were
going through difficult times. Giving up was really never an
option. If there was something she could not help you with, it
seemed there was always someone she could call who could help.
Her network of friends was enormous.
She loved the neighborhood. She
would remark, “It’s a beautiful day. Look how fortunate we are
to live in such a beautiful place.”
Going to 24th Street for
afternoon walks became her life and social outlet. Sometimes
she would be gone for hours. It all depended on how many
friends she ran into. Many of the homeless looked to her with
gratitude because she always responded to their needs.
Sybil had outlived two husbands.
She never had any children. She said on several occasions that
her later years were the happiest years of her life.
The last day that Sybil and Mo
spent together she had taken a fall and could not get up. Mo
continued to bark loudly until a neighbor looked out the
window to find out what was going on and went for help. From
that moment on, even though her family nursed her back to
health, she was housebound. Our Sybil was no longer able to
visit her 24th Street extended family, whom she had grown to
love so much. A year later, she passed away at home, at the
age of 88.
Sybil was one in a million, and
we will always be grateful for her love and friendship. It is
so appropriate that she was born on Valentine’s Day, for she
truly was a sweetheart.
Love always to Sybil. You will
remain forever in our hearts.
Diane LaRosa, Mo, and Nina too
Linda Lockyer
Julia Ready
P.S. If you are driving
around someday and the car in front of you has a bumper
sticker that reads, “Practice random acts of kindness,” think
of Sybil, as this is what she practiced on a daily basis.
