Sylvia Morris passed away peacefully in her sleep on the morning of August 3, 2019, while visiting her longtime friend Nicole in Port Hope, ON. As per her instructions, Sylvia’s age is not being disclosed. For those of you at her 80th birthday party a few years ago, Sylvia would say “do the math.”
Many hearts are broken with Sylvia’s sudden passing. She leaves behind her most beloved daughter Lara (Fayette) and granddaughter Sadie, brothers Roly and Brian, and was predeceased by her parents Stanley and Jean, and sister Patricia. She was a cherished friend to her sisters-in-law Beverly and Valerie, and the late Dawne. Auntie Sylvia will be dearly missed by her nieces and nephews: Michael, Gordon (Leslie), Jan Marie, William, Courtney (Jeffrey), Justin, Simone (Mike), and Connor.
Sylvia will also be remembered fondly by a large group of close friends met through her work, volunteering, in her neighbourhoods, and riding the bus. You’d have to audition to fit into her jam-packed social calendar and yet she was so giving of her time to those she cherished. She nurtured relationships with friends for decades and with family near and far. Amazing at keeping in touch by phone, email, cards, and letters, Sylvia never missed a birthday or anniversary and often travelled to Canada’s east and west coasts for family visits.
Distinguishable by her piercing blue eyes, silver curls, and high cheekbones, Sylvia was classy and stylish. From stitching her own plaid pantsuits in the 1970s to accessorizing with the perfect scarf, bracelet, and nail colour, Sylvia found a way to be both elegant and cool – yet somehow still practical in her comfortable shoes and backpack!
Those comfortable shoes got her from one end of Toronto to the other. She was constantly on the go by foot or TTC, in addition to having a regular yoga practice and working out at the gym. She was often impossible to keep up with, even in her 80s!
Sylvia made it a priority to soak in every aspect of culture and truly felt that the arts made her life richer. This included annual trips to the Stratford and Shaw festivals, local theatre, watching movies and documentary films and volunteering for many years at the AGO and Gardiner Museum. A lifelong learner who attended lectures and courses in film, architecture, and photography, she also possessed a creative spirit, sewing clothes for herself and her daughter, quilting, and collecting pottery.
In her youth, Sylvia faced some major health issues, but even during a year in the Weston Sanitorium being treated for tuberculosis Sylvia found fun, hosting a radio show and sneaking out with her boyfriend to the local bar. Her late twenties started her love affair with the Laurentians, working at Gray Rocks Inn.
Sylvia focused her professional life as a title searcher, then Law Clerk, at four firms, completing her career at Torys where she worked the longest. She not only organized the inaugural, and many subsequent, annual conferences of the Institute of Law Clerks Ontario, but also served as President from 1991-93. Her legacy at ILCO lives on, with the most recent conference being hosted in Quebec City last May. A political person, Sylvia loved discussing domestic and international politics, served several political campaigns and enjoyed her Sunday morning “political shows.” Her stripes were always red.
Sylvia was a trailblazer, living life on her own terms, and often going against the grain. From choosing to be a single mother in 1967, to living without a car since the early 80s, she also refused to give in to cell phone culture and continued documenting every special event and trip with camera film, never going digital.
Sylvia lived a full life and inspired the people around her to be their best, seek happiness, and be bold. She will be so deeply missed by all those who loved her.
Details will follow at: rememberingsylvia.wixsite.com/morris
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Sylvia Morris Saturday August 3rd 2019..
Death notice for the town of: Port-Hope, Province: Ontario