Local obituary: Sydney Penney, 27, Acton-Boxborough High School grad

Sydney Amanda Penney was born January 6th, 1998, at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston. She passed away unexpectedly on October 1st, 2025.

Sydney graduated from Acton-Boxboro High School. Syd, as she was affectionately known, had a beautiful, loving soul. She was kind, compassionate, and genuine. She always chose to see the good in people. She had a bright, vibrant energy about her that radiated onto everyone whose life she touched. She was a sweetheart that every time you saw her you couldn’t help but want to hug her. That was Syd.

Her smile was as big as the sky and lit up a room every time she entered. Her love of animals was something that no one could explain. She had what they call the “animal whisperer” effect. Be it a bird, a hedgehog, or a little mouse, Syd would rescue it and that little animal knew it was safe with her.

But that’s not all. Sydney loved the outdoors. Growing her vegetables or planting flowers, she had a green thumb like no one on this planet. She could shoot a bow and arrow, reel in a fish, shoot a gun too, ride a horse like a true cowgirl, and ice fish like an Eskimo, sew a blanket in a matter of minutes, draw like a true artist, well I think you get the gist. There was nothing in this world that Sydney could not accomplish or succeed at.

And her absence in the world is truly a devastating loss to every single human being that she ever came in contact with. Sydney, you are at peace now so rest easy in the hands of your Heavenly Father and with Baba and Poppy; please continue to watch over all of us who will forever miss that beautiful smile of yours. 

Sydney Penney leaves behind her father Luke Penney and his wife Peggy Duffy-Shea of Medford. Her loving mother Jessica Janvrin and her husband Kevin Janvrin (Sydney Penney’s step dad) of Acton. Step brothers Andrew Shea and his fiancée Katie Prisco and Danny Shea. Loving granddaughter of the late John Penney, Kip Penney and her friend Pierre Henault. Judith E. (Sawyer) Ligor and her late husband Christy R. Ligor. Uncles Matthew Penney and his wife Tracy Lee, Mark and Ann Marie Penney, aunts Christine Penney and her husband Eoin Hayes, Susie Penny, Rebecca and Edward Amazeen, and loving cousins Gracie and Aidan Pompi, Christie and John Primpas, Jack and Kyle, Brianna and Isabella Penney, Josephine and Matea Hayes.

She was also loved by many other family members and friends that are too many to be named but know who they are.

Visiting hours were held in the Brown & Hickey Funeral Home, 36 Trapelo Road, Belmont, on Wednesday, Oct. 8th, from 4:00 – 7:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to The Animal Rescue League of Boston, c/o Development 10 Anna’s Place, Dedham, MA 02026 https://www.arlboston.org/donate/ in Sydney’s Memory.

This local obituary is published via Legacy.com and Brown & Hickey Funeral Home. Want a loved one’s obituary featured on Boston.com? Submit your obituary here, or email it to [email protected].