Sylvia passed away peacefully at home surrounded by love and support from many family and friends. She was born a Dutch citizen in Maracaibo, Venezuela where the Shell Oil company had stationed her father. She returned with her family to the Netherlands in 1964 living in the Hague and Rolde before attending college in Deventer. After graduating in 1980, she worked in Driebergen where she met her husband to be, John, while he was travelling from Canada to visit his sister. After a month-long vacation to Canada, she decided to move to Victoria, where she and John were married on April 8, 1983.
After working in various hotels around the city and running her own bed and breakfast, she transitioned to elder care, assisting seniors to age in place at home, work that she thoroughly enjoyed. Sylvia generously volunteered her time, whether at the school library, school board, community association or pet therapy group. She found her 9 years as a Hospice volunteer the most rewarding making many friends along the way. She was a long-time member of a book club also comprised of many dear friends.
Sylvia contracted leukemia in 2015 and, after treatment and a stem cell transplant, was granted what she called ‘bonus time’: 5 years of watching her sons flourish, the grandchildren grow, travelling to visit family, making trips in the motorcycle sidecar, and having lunch with friends. She was recently diagnosed with lung cancer and after a short struggle succumbed to the disease.
Sylvia is predeceased by her parents, Bob and Cor Ronteltap, and survived by John, her husband of 38 years, her sons Aaron (Elizabeth) and Ruben (Tori), her sister Ellen and brother Hans and her grandchildren Anders and Frances, whom she absolutely adored.
Many thanks to the family, friends and neighbours who provided encouragement and support through Sylvia’s illness. Her advice would be to live, love, be true to yourself, volunteer, meditate and enjoy life, because it can be short.
A funeral service is not possible at this time. Condolences, thoughts and memories may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
16 Responses
Dear John, Aaron, Ruben, Hans, Ellen and family
I was truly shocked when Hans informed me that Sylvia was seriously ill. Sylvia I became friends when attending college in Deventer/ the Netherlands. We had a lot of fun and spent for example a summer hitchhiking in Schotland (we told our parents about the hitchhiking upon our – safe- return). As a student, she could really party. We lost contact a bit since our lives where in separate areas (and I have moved quite a bit).
Dear John it must be very hard on you to lose Sylvia after so many happy marriage years and at a much too young age. I told Hans that it must have been a great gift that she became a grandmother during those ‘bonus’years. I hope you will find solace in the memories of Sylvia and her life.
Dear John, Aaron, Ruben and family,
We were so saddened to hear of the passing of Sylvia. I remember I would see her on walks at Beaver Lake. I remember her talking about being so excited to see grandson and to get to know him. A very warm, kind and caring person. So sorry that she again had to battle cancer for a second time. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Dear Family and Friends,
On behalf of the Maria Montessori Academy community, I offer my sincerest condolences.
Sylvia was a beloved part of a dynamic board that most notably, instigated our move to Gordon Head.
While I only had the privilege to work with Sylvia in a small capacity at that time…her passion, empathy and belief in the common good was infectious.
Now we are fortunate to have Miss Elizabeth as a staff member and Sylvia’s grandchildren as students.
Sylvia’s easy laugh lives on through them.
Mr. Patrick Vincentine
Dear John, Aaron, Ruben and family,
We were very sad to hear that Sylvia passed away. She was a wonderful woman, and we are so glad that we came to visit in 2013.
We wish you strength and wisdom to cope with this heavy loss.
Lots of love, Joreel and Freek
I am truly saddened to learn of Sylvia’s health struggles, and her recent death. I came to know Sylvia when she was a volunteer at Victoria Hospice, and I was senior manager of the volunteer department. We enjoyed numerous chats together. I was always happy to stop to talk about her latest involvements and activities in her life. She exuded a zest for life with her warm personality and quick smile and laugh. She was a regular volunteer on the unit at Hospice for a number of years, always conscientious, friendly, and capable in what she offered in her support and service to the patients and families at hospice. I learned more about Sylvia in reading her obituary. I am certain that her positive presence, kindness, and love of life will be dearly missed by those who had the privilege of knowing her. My sincere condolences to your family and circle of friends who are grieving her loss. May your memories of times shared with Sylvia be a comfort to you.
Dear John and familly,
My condolences with the loss of Sylvia. I only met her a few times, but I will remember her friendliness, her interest in otters and very special, the twinkling in her eyes. And the time my husband Bert and I were in Canada and stayed at yours: her hospitalitty.
I wish you all a lot of strength for the coming period.
Marianne Ronteltap-Weidema