My Sister.. My Friend.. Sylvia

SYLVIA C. MILLER 1943 - 2003

The family of Sylvia Miller, beloved wife of David Miller, sadly announces her sudden passing on Tuesday, April 29, 2003 at the Grace General Hospital.

Sylvia was predeceased by her mother, Helen Schellenberg (nee Breyfogle) in 1991 and by her father, Donald Smith in 1995. Sylvia will be lovingly remembered and dearly missed by her husband, David, her best friend and companion of 40 years; step-father Bill Schellenberg; step-mother Joyce Smith; sister Dawn-Ellen Smith; brothers David (Maureen) of Red Deer and Rick (Janet) of Marchand; sisters-in-law Dolly Saltasuk, Sylvia Miller, and Suzanne Blondeel (Pat); brothers-in-law Bob and Lenore Miller; George Miller (Mary Ann), James Miller (Mary Lynne), William Miller (Bernadette), and Jerrold Miller; stepsisters Wanda Schellenberg, Sandy Klassen (Brian), Carol Loewen (Fred), and Shirley Rempel (Don); stepbrothers Curtis Schellenberg (Adina), Kelly Schellenberg (Sandra), Barry Schellenberg (Dianne), Dale Schellenberg (Julie), John Schellenberg (Laurel), and Don Schellenberg (Faye); many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and friends.

All who knew Sylvia remembered her. With her long career at the Bank of Montreal of 41 years, she is well known in the Winnipeg community. She enjoyed being active in anything she was involved in, usually volunteering her time to any cause she felt needed her. She was a long time board member for Harstone United Church and Church Treasurer. Recently, she was the president of the Agape Villa Residents Association for two years. Bowling was her sport and Wednesday and Friday nights you knew that you could find her at Empress Lanes. Unless of course, they were in Hawaii, or Jamaica, or Europe. Travel was her passion and she lived for her month long stays in Hawaii. She was meant to have been born on a beach. Sylvia grew up and lived on the family farm in Otterburne and later lived with her mother at her grandfather Breyfogle's dairy farm at Union Point. She moved to Winnipeg in 1960 where she met Dave. They married on a beautiful day on October 6, 1962. They were blessed with the companionship of 4 wonderful cats over the years: Condor, Missy, Puff, and will be missed by Snoops.

Sylvia's hearty laugh was always heard at every gathering she attended. She loved to be with family and friends, days at the cottage or just a time spent having tea with her friends. Her generous heart and caring spirit is her legacy to us all. Special thanks to Dr. Oscar Domke and the staff at the Emergency and Observation Units of the Grace General Hospital. A memorial service celebrating Sylvia's life will be held at 3:00 p.m., Monday, May 5, 2003 at the Windsor Park United Church, 1062 Autumnwood Dr., Winnipeg. A family interment will be held at Chapel Lawn 4000 Portage Ave, 885-9715.

Don't think of her as gone away - her journey's just begun; Life holds so many facets - this earth is only one. Just think of her as resting from the sorrows and the tears; In a place of warmth and comfort where there are no days and years. Think how she must be wishing that we could know, today. How nothing but our sadness can really pass away. And think of her as living in the hearts of those she touched...For nothing loved is ever lost - and she was loved so much.

Aloha Sylvia

Written by Dawn-Ellen

Presented by David

I am honoured to give this tribute to my sister. It is hard to put in words all that we are feeling right now. But let us start with the good memories because this is a day to celebrate her life. Dawn helped me write this and promised to help me through it, just as Sylvia helped her once.

Aloha, Websters New World Dictionarys definition says, Hawaiian word for Love. Used as a greeting or a farewell. I suppose today is a day we can say aloha to Sylvia. It is only fitting for a woman who loved Hawaii more than any other place.

She loved nature, something that our Daddy taught us. So many camping trips to Beaver Creek and the stories that we all heard about the many deer seen on nightly drives into Riding Mountain National Park from Elkhorn. She loved her garden, the cabin, and being outdoors. I guess that is what contributed to her absolute passion for the winter vacation. Travelling was what kept her going during the busy winter seasons at work; the anticipation of 3 or 4 weeks in Hawaii helping her through the bleak winter days of Manitoba. But travelling for her was not just her and Dave travelling together but anyone who wanted to share with them in their travels. I know that many of us here had tour guide Sylvia with us for their first trip to Hawaii or even just to Riding Mountainshe knew all the best places to go and wasnt scared to try to find even better places! She was a travel agent wanna-be and I think she missed her calling.

So now, let us look at Sylvia, as we know her. You know her as the well-dressed, together woman everything in order happy and cheerya purse that weighed 300 lbs. Ready for anything that was Sylvia. OK, now its time to reveal the truth, from those in the know

Dawn provided us with this visual on Friday afternoon. She lived with Sylvia and Dave for one year and she wanted to share with you what she came to know about my sister. Please close your eyes, everyone. Picture the back kitchen at their house on Lipton. Picture Sylvia, freshly out of bed, no glasses on, sitting in her full slip, hair mussed up, eyes half closed, toast and cheese in one hand, and a cup of tea in the other. Just sitting there. Anything said to her was answered with a uh huh or uh uh OK, now that you have that picture in your mind. Remember that was the picture that Dave had of her every weekday morning for 40 years! It was a view that few of us had ever seen and those of us who have seen it, could never help but tease her about her lack of morning togetherness. but that was Sylvia the non-morning person. Apparently it was a standing joke at the bank not to talk to her before 11am.

Sylvia was an only child until she was 20. Then suddenly she had siblings all over the place of all ages and all becoming special to her in their own ways Sylvia was always in my life our early memories of her are of holidays and birthdaysnot one celebration could start until Dave and Sylvia arrived. sometime The holiday memories of delicious meals at their home, the wonderful wrapping jobs on our gifts We never questioned the sharing of her and Dave during holidays it was just something that was part of our family the sharing was part of having Sylvia in our lives and that is what she did best sharing, giving of herself.

She loved to be involved volunteering with the Church, being involved with bowling, she loved to shop, nights or afternoons spent at the symphony, ballet or theatre centre. She loved travelling, of course; being at the beach or by the pool; being at the cabin; cuddling with her cats; and did I mention she loved to shop?