Sylvia Barreto Svelan's Obituary
Sylvia Barreto Svelan, 83, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on February 2, 2026. She was born on September 4, 1942, in Bogotá, Colombia. For more than 55 years, Sylvia made Texas her home, living in both Dallas and San Antonio.
To her family, Sylvia was a true trailblazer. At just 16 years old, she joined the American Field Service exchange student program, inspired by the independence and opportunities women embraced in the United States. She spent a year living with her American host family in Neenah, Wisconsin, where she attended Neenah High School. During that time, she visited local schools sharing stories about life in Colombia—often laughing as students who had never left the country asked if she “lived in trees.”
Sylvia thrived academically and socially, fitting in seamlessly with her peers, and was voted Homecoming Queen, a reflection of her charisma, intelligence, and warmth. One of the highlights of her life came at the end of her exchange year, when she traveled to Washington, D.C., with fellow students and had the unforgettable opportunity to meet President John F. Kennedy.
After returning briefly to Bogotá, Sylvia was offered a position in Dallas which brought her back to the United States permanently. She spent most of her career working as a multilingual executive assistant, a career she was so very proud of and went to work with joy everyday. Gifted with languages, she spoke Spanish, English, French, Italian, and some Portuguese. It was in Dallas, at the Quiet Man Pub, where she met Bill Svelan. They married soon after and shared nearly 30 years of marriage together.
Sylvia embraced life with joy, energy, and spirit. She loved to dance and was known for her competitive nature—whether on the tennis court, at the ping pong table, or during lively games of Colombian rumi. She played to win, but always with laughter and heart.
She was preceded in death by her beloved parents, Cecilia and Alejandro Barreto, and by her cherished sister, best friend, and “partner in crime,” Constanza Barreto Ward.
Sylvia is survived by her pride and joy—her daughter Jennifer Svelan Worley and son Jon Svelan—along with their spouses, Jim Worley and Valeria Torrisi Svelan. She is also the cherished grandmother of William Stefano Svelan, whom she held in her heart with great love.
She also leaves behind Bill Svelan, her former husband and lifelong friend; her loving siblings Yolanda, Adriana, Annabella, and Mauricio; her siblings-in-law Alberto, Alicia, Randy, and Luis Felipe; her treasured nieces Stephanie, Camila (Carlos), Irene, Julia (Octavio), Amelia, and Emilia; her nephew Gabriel; her step-grandson Tayler, her beloved great-niece Izzy, and the newest member of the family, Leticia.
Animals were always at the center of Sylvia’s heart. She had a deep love for them and, at one point, happily shared her home with eleven—only because her daughter finally set a limit on how many she was allowed to adopt. She adored her little companions so much that she even knitted sweaters for them. They brought her great comfort, and she devoted her time and love to caring for them.
Sylvia will forever be missed and remembered for her entertaining humor—often referred to as the Colombian Lucille Ball—her joy of dancing whenever music was played, and her devoted passion for the World Cup, often tracking every match and even sneaking a small TV under her desk at work so she wouldn’t miss a moment. Above all, she will be remembered for her deep love of family. Her unforgettable spirit will live on in the memories of all those she leaves behind. Sylvia’s life was marked by courage, curiosity, joy, and deep love for her family.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that donations be made to Wine to the Rescue, a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to saving animals in need and offering outreach programs for seniors, veterans, and individuals facing financial hardship to help support the medical care of their pets. Animals were such a big part of Sylvia’s life, and her eleven little companions meant the world to her. Sylvia proudly supported Wine to the Rescue for many years, and her compassion for animals lives on through each life given a second chance. https://www.winetotherescue.org
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