Sylvia T. (Topp) Hughes

Our beloved Sylvia passed away at home July 2, 2018 after a courageous and determined battle against glioblastoma. Sylvia, age 70, was born in Pasadena, CA. Her father was career Army, so Sylvia grew up on Army bases throughout the US (including Sandia Base twice), as well as tours in Japan and Germany. After graduating from Highland High School she attended UNM, where she met her future husband, Bill Hughes. They recently celebrated their 50th anniversary. Son Brian was born in Albuquerque and son Kevin was born in Honolulu where Bill was stationed in the Navy, after which the family returned to live in Albuquerque.

Sylvia earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in nutrition from UNM and was a longtime outpatient dietitian at Lovelace. She served as a volunteer with New Life Homes and the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill. She was a Master Gardener and always kept a beautiful garden of her own. Sylvia loved and was an active member of Sandia Presbyterian Church. As a proud mother of an Air Force son, she became very active with the Blue Star Mothers, and especially loved welcoming home deployed troops. Sylvia’s highest priority was always her family—first, her children and three exchange students and later her three precious grandchildren. Sylvia would travel and spend weeks or months supporting her daughter-in-law and grandchildren, especially during her son’s deployments. Sylvia was predeceased by her father, Col. Alphonso Topp and brother, Col. Peter Topp. She is survived by her mother, Catherine Topp; husband, Bill Hughes; son Brian Hughes, his wife Melody and children Tom, Ray and Lily; and son Kevin Hughes and his wife Maria Elena; sisters Karen Topp, Susan Topp Weber, Linda Topp Roberts, Astrid Topp, Heidi Topp Brooks, Megan Topp, Katrina Topp, and brother Eric Topp. A Memorial Service will be held Thursday, August 9, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at Sandia Presbyterian Church. Interment will follow at 3:00 p.m. at the Santa Fe National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations to Sylvia’s memory can be made to the Rio Grande Valley Blue Star Mothers or Sandia Presbyterian Church.