Sylvia Rose Robinson

On Saturday, February 26, 2011 at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre at the age of 76 with her family at her bedside. Sylvia was born in Hackney, London, U.K. and married her husband and best friend Derek on November 24, 1956, resulting in a wonderful marriage. They first met, during a working vacation, in the middle of a potato field in Hampshire, U.K., many miles from their homes, when Sylvia was 17. Sylvia subsequently became Derek's sunshine and "jewel". They immigrated with their children to Canada in 1967. She will be sorely missed by her loving husband Derek, her daughter Suzanne, her brother John Howard (Irene) and her sister Renee Thorne, both in the U.K., as well as her two treasured Shih Tzu's, Bubbles and Emma. Predeceased by her son Tim in 1980 and her parents Percy and Emily Howard. Sylvia will be remembered for her fun loving and happy personality, popularity, fantastic sense of humour, high energy, down to earth character, modesty, sincerity, and contagious laugh. In short; a beautiful lady. She took part in the promotion for the 2009 International Film Festival held in Toronto. A champion at squash, Sylvia also enjoyed, over many years, playing tennis, attending aerobics classes and ballroom and disco dancing at The Cricket, Skating and Curling Club, Bayview Village Tennis Club, Richmond Hill Country Club, The St. Georges Society of Toronto, Sylvia also enjoyed her membership, with many friends, in The Thornhill Newcomers Club. She also attended various other functions in connection with, Branch 165 Royal Canadian Legion (Fort York), The Honourable Company of Freeman of the City of London of North America and the Toronto Board of Trade. She was always a highly valued and industrious employee with frequent promotions. In the U.K., Sylvia worked as a multi-duty "Girl Friday" for a dress manufacturer and exporter. In Canada, she spent many years working as Secretary/Administrator to the Corporate Senior Management at Texaco. After the amalgamation with Imperial Oil (Esso), she became Secretary/Administrator to the Executive Vice President. For vacations, Sylvia travelled the world with Derek. The family wishes to gratefully acknowledge the following hospitals, doctors and nursing staff for their exceptional skills and dedication in assisting Sylvia with her brave fight against cancer; North York General Hospital (Dr. Jeffrey Noakes, Dr. Jeffrey Chin, Dr. Peter Stotland and Dr. Stanley Flax), The Odette Cancer Centre at Sunnybrook Hospital (Dr. Georg Bjarnason), Toronto East General Hospital (Dr. Carmine Simone).

Friends are welcome to attend the Funeral Service that will take place at the R.S. Kane Funeral Home (6150 Yonge Street, at Goulding, south of Steeles) on Wednesday, March 2, 2011 at 7 p.m. with visitation beginning at 5:30 p.m. A Celebration of Sylvia's Life with take place at the Holy Trinity Anglican Church (140 Brooke Street, Thornhill) on Saturday, March 19, 2011 starting at 3:00p.m.. A private urn interment will take place at York Cemetery. As an expression of sympathy, donations can be made to the Canadian Cancer Society and The St. George's Society of Toronto.