Maion “Sylvia Hall

Marion "Sylvia" Hall nee Flett was born in Melfort Saskatchewan October 24, 1924 to Margery Ann Flett and John Wesley Flett. Sylvia grew up on a farm with her brother Wesley and a sister Ethel with 18 months between the three siblings, Sylvia being the youngest. She was very close to her brother. Right from the start Sylvia was an active child never sitting still for a moment. She quickly caught up to her siblings in school and they were all in the same grade. Nine years later her sister Chrisine came along. When their parents moved to Creston B.C. in Sylvia's last year of high school all three girls boarded in town finishing their school year. At the ripe age of sixteen Sylvia graduated from high school and was turned down by the Normal school (teacher training) in Saskachewan due to her age. Persistent in all things she applied to Vancouver Normal School and was accepted heading out to Vancouver on the train. Sylvia taught her first class of 37 students in Port Moody at the age of 17. Sadly she lost her precious brother in the war in 1943. She met her soon to be husband Richard Hall who never let Sylvia out of his sight until they were married on Oct 24 1945. Their honeymoon was a sign of things to come and Sylvia good sport that she was went off with Richie on a hunting honeymoon. Sylvia worked alongside her husband for many years at the Lower Mainland Gun Club where Richie was the president. The couple raised their three children Ann, Adrien, and Ron in Burnaby. Sylvia was a second mom to many other children family and friends. In 1978 the couple moved to Chilliwack as Ritchie was hired by the military as a sign painter. Sylvia worked at the YMCA as their bookkeeper and later got her realter's licence. Ritchie and Sylvia were active members at the Sardis OAPO for many years. Lonely after Richie's passing Sylvia became involved with the executive at the OAPO and the hospital auxiliary where she worked as a volunteer at the Heritage Nursing Home. She volunteered at the bingo hall and knit for the Hospital tuck shop. With energy left over Sylvia did income tax for seniors donating her earnings to a family counseling center. She donated her knitting machine to a women's cooperative in Africa and invested in an international organization who provided loans to women starting businesses in developing countries. Throughout her life Sylvia was an avid gardener and canner and loved to share her canning with family and friends. She was always up for an adventure and enjoyed many wonderful trips. With failing health after heart surgery Sylvia moved to Victoria to be closer to and supported by her daughter Adrien. Sylvia loved nature and good food both of which she found in Victoria (not at the Gorge Hospital but at Pagliacci's restaurant). Sylvia is survived by her sisters Ethel and Christine, her son Ron and his wife Anne, granddaughters Stephanie and Caitlin, her second daughter Adrien and her eldest daughter Ann and husband Lloyd, her grandsons David and Cory and great grandchildren Chance and Renee. Sylvia will be dearly missed by her friends, her family and all of those she touched. Her generosity of spirit paired with her strong commitment to social justice and unconditional love for her community leave us inspired to contribute our own gifts selflessly. A celebration of her life will be held at 2:00 pm Thursday Aug. 2nd at the OAP hall at 5725 Tyson Road in Chilliwack.