Sylvia I. Boyd, age 98 years, passed away peacefully on March 31, 2023, in St. Joseph’s Hospital, Hospice Unit, with her niece, Lori, at her side.
Sylvia was born in Port Arthur on January 19, 1925. She married William Boyd (also from Port Arthur) and had 3 children: Allan, Kelvin and Jocelyn. In 1966, the family moved to Guelph, Ontario. Sylvia stayed at home and looked after her family and when they were older, she joined the Wellington Catholic School Board where she worked as a secretary in the Board office.
After she retired, Sylvia returned to Thunder Bay to be closer to her brother Walter & family. She was a spiritual person and she was an active volunteer with the Oliver Road Ladies Association for many years until finally retiring in her 90’s. She was an avid card shark at the 55 Plus Centre playing both Whist & Euchre and always knew to count her cards!
Sylvia is survived by her daughter, Jocelyn (Doug) Keleher, her daughters-in-law, Brenda (Brian) and Heather (Kelvin), eight grandchildren (Jacqueline, Allan, Justin, Ryan, Ian, Jason, Cameron, Katie), 10 great-grandchildren (Mason, Taite, Mackenzie, Celia, Aidan, Rianne, Patrick, Brooklyn, Lucy-Marie, Elle), her nephew Wayne (Margit) Sohlman, her niece, Lori Perger.
She was predeceased by her two sons, Allan Boyd (Aug. 1999) and Kelvin Boyd (Oct. 2009), as well as her parents, Antti (Andrew) Sohlman and Linnea (Hill) Sohlman, her brothers, Walter (Irene), Tauno (Mary), and sister, Bertha (Raymond) Dark, her nephews Edwin (Debbie) Sohlman and Rob Perger.
Sylvia lived in her own apartment until March of this year and drove until she was 97 years young! She remained fiercely independent until health issues forced her to enter the hospital in early March. She will be remembered for her kindness, sense of humour, strength (Sisu) and deeply independent spirit; her mind remained sharp as a tack until the end.
Sylvia was proud of her Finnish Heritage. Her Father Antti (Andrew) Sohlman was born in Lappeenranta, Finland; her Mother Linnea (Hill) Sohlman was born in Vilpuri, Finland.
Sylvia shared many family holiday dinners, weddings and card games in Thunder Bay and really enjoyed relaxing in her brothers back yard during the summer months.
She travelled every Christmas back to Toronto to be with her children and grandchildren until Covid lockdowns. She bravely went through these years remaining strong and determined to get back to her Card Club. It was a difficult time but she read many books and did crossword puzzles to pass the time.
Auntie Sylvia and Lori grew closer in the last 12+ years beginning with her Cancer diagnosis in her 80s. Together they went to her treatments where she (of course) beat Cancer!!
Wayne and Margit fondly remember her from Friday night card games at her brother Walter’s house where there was a lot of fun and banter and of course food and drinks!
Sylvia’s family would like to thank the doctors and nurses at TB Regional Hospital as well as those at St. Joseph’s Hospital for taking such gentle care of her. Lori, Sylvia’s niece, has been unfailingly by her side and has provided endless help and comfort. We also want to thank her friends Jean and Marge for being terrific supports for her. Thanks also to Jackie, her granddaughter, for spending a week in Thunder Bay at her Nanny’s side. Thanks to Rick, her neighbour, for helping whenever she asked.
Thanks also to Lutheran Pastor Bryan for coming to the Hospice Unit to provide the last rites blessings.
A celebration of Sylvia’s life will take place at the Memory Gardens Funeral Home in Breslau, Ontario on April 29th. Donations, in lieu of flowers, can be made to ALS Society Canada or Heart and Stroke
