Alicia Sillars, 64, Darien Youth Director, First Depot Director, DHS Class of ’78, Loved Gardening, Biking, Mahjong

Alicia Baker Sillars Comesana-Vila’s wonder-filled journey ended Feb. 8. She was 64.

Alicia was born in Chicago on Sept. 28, 1960 to Robert Noble Sillars Jr. and Barbara Jane Baker Sillars. When Alicia was six years old, the family moved from the Chicago area to Darien, where she attended the public schools through her graduation from Darien High School.

During her youth, she attended Camp Mohawk in Litchfield, where she served as camp counselor and as a unit leader. She fittingly was given the role of “Summer” in each end of session ceremony. She sent her daughters to Mohawk, and attended reunions that the camp held. She lived by the camp’s motto “The spirit lasts a lifetime.”

Alicia attended Boston College and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in education.

With a close friend, Alicia took a 16-month trip around with world, visiting Europe, the Soviet Union, Africa, India, Australia and New Zealand. The pair lived on a $20/day budget and climbed the highest peak of each location that they could, including Mount Kilimanjaro.

Upon returning, Alicia settled in Darien, working for a local restaurant where she met her future husband, George Comesana-Vila. The two settled in Greenwich where they raised their two daughters, Emma and Chloë.

Since 1990, Alicia’s professional legacy has been the impact she has had on countless youth who passed through the doors of the Darien Depot or participated in programs and activities offered by the Darien Youth Commission.

Alicia served as the first executive director of the Darien Depot, which provided teens the opportunity to connect, grow, and give back. She was one of the keys to the organization’s success when previous attempts at starting a teen center in the town were not sustained.

Following her tenure at the Depot, in 1996, Alicia became the director of the Darien Youth Commission, working for the town of Darien. During that time she left her spark and mark on the community.

She revamped the summer camp program, growing and changing each year for 28 years. She spearheaded family friendly activities that focused on uniting the community such as family concerts, movies at the beach, a model boat regattas, countless food drives and creative drives connecting the Youth of Darien with the senior community. She was awarded the Woman of Distinction Award in 2015, by the YWCA, for all of her dedication to the Town of Darien.

Alicia was a loyal friend. She maintained friendships from college, high school, middle and even elementary school years.

She loved gardening, biking with her husband, mahjong, reading, relaxing at the beach, and spending time with those she loved, especially in the sun.

Alicia is survived by her loving husband George Comesana-Vila, and her daughters, Emma Jane (Thomas) and Chloë Louise (Robert). She is also survived by her brothers: Scott Sillars (Margaret Griffin), Cameron Sillars (Donna Hein) and John Sillars (Laura). She is remembered by a number of cherished nieces and nephews. She is leaving behind countless members of extended family; the Sanchez and Rossini family, the Del Vecchio family, her tribe, fellow Mohawkers as well as countless spirits she touched during her time here. She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert N. Sillars Jr. and Barbara Sillars, as well as her brother, Robert Sillars III.

An end of life picnic is planned, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, May 31, 2025 at Bruce Park in Greenwich.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alicia Sillars Comesana-Vila Fund at Camp Mohawk for Girls. Her daughters ask that guests participate in a “take a seed, leave a seed.” This will not only keep Alicia’s garden thriving. This gives the girls the opportunity to continue in their mother’s mission to make the world a more beautiful place, with the collaboration of all of Alicia’s friends and family.

— an obituary from Leo P. Gallagher & Son Funeral Home-Greenwich, where online condolences may be left. Top photograph from the obituary published by the Darien Times on Legacy.com.