Sylvia Marie Raway

Sylvia Raway, age 76 of Hastings, Minnesota passed away on April 16, 2026 surrounded by her family.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11 AM on Saturday, April 25, 2026 at The Harbor Church, 11125 Point Douglas Dr S, Hastings, MN with a visitation from 10-11 AM. All are invited to a luncheon following the service.

Sylvia Marie Raway was born on September 12, 1949, in Faribault, MN to Laurence and Viola Chester. She is the 4th oldest child of 8 siblings.

Sylvia is survived by her loving husband Henry, and their loving sons Isaac (Antoinette) and Nathanael (Allissa).

When Sylvia was 3 years old the family moved to California. Sylvia welcomed Jesus into her heart when she was 5 years old, she never strayed away from Him for her whole life! This is her testimony!

The family then moved to Northfield, MN. Sylvia graduated from Northfield High school. When Sylvia was 17 years old she went to college in Springfield Missouri and obtained a bachelor's degree in History/Teaching.

Her family later moved to Dundas where she was raised and where her values and character were shaped.

On July 11 1981, Sylvia married Henry Raway and together they raised two children: Isaac and Nathanael. Sylvia home-schooled their two boys until the last few years of high school. 

Sylvia has always found joy in creating with her hands-especially through sewing. Sylvia started sewing her own clothes when she very young and has been sewing for her whole life on the same sewing machine that she bought when she was 16 years old. That same sewing machine is now 60 years old and we still have it. Sylvia also bought her horse Scout at the same time, but that's another story. Sylvia crafted many quilts which she gave to family, friends, and to people she didn't even know being prompted by the Holy Spirit.

Sylvia loved to cook for and feed people. Of course she cooked for her family, but she also cooked for and fed many people for The Harbor Church's Alpha group (an Introduction to Jesus and the Christian faith).

She was also the head of The Harbor Church's Food Distribution for many years. For questionable food donations she had the motto "When in Doubt, Throw it Out". Sylvia baked over 1000 little loaves of banana-type breads and gave them to people on Sunday morning at The Harbor Church.

Sylvia is preceded in death by her parents, Laurence and Viola Chester; siblings Harlin (Faye), Lilly (David) Sampson, Dolly (Gene) Wilson, Loren (Germaine), Gene, Jonathan (Carolyn), Cherri (Michael) Pofahl. Sylvia is survived by her husband Henry, her sons Isaac (Antoinette) and Nathanael (Allissa) Raway and by her siblings Eldon (Betty) Chester, Laura (Richard) Lien, Marlys Chester, Fawn Paulson and Kelsey Chester.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Samaritan's Purse International Relief - click here to donate online.

LIVESTREAM INFORMATION: For those who would like to participate in the service via livestream, you can watch the service by scrolling to the bottom of this page and click “PLAY" to begin. Please leave a message of support on our Tribute Wall to let the family know you were able to watch the service. If you are having trouble with the Livestream, the service will be available to watch later in the day.