Saide Sullivan

Saide Cancar Sullivan at the age of sixty four passed peacefully away on Friday the eighth of February, 2013 at the Victoria Hospice, Victoria B.C. For all but the final two days of her lengthy struggle with cancer, she was able to remain in her home. Saide is predeceased by First husband Sherwood Anthony Fehm, Daughter Saba Fehm-Sullivan and Father, Sadun A. Cancar. Saide will be lovingly remembered by her husband James E. Sullivan, Mother Seniha Engin Cancar Birch, Daughter Elif Fehm-Sullivan, Brother M. Kemal Cancar, Niece Miya C. Cancar, Nephew Derin K. Cancar and many beloved relatives in her native Turkey. Saide was born in Istanbul, Turkey, Graduated from High School at the Ankara Ataturk Kiz Lisesi, 1966. With her family she immigrated to Canada in 1966 and became a Canadian citizen. In 1967 she received an additional Degree at Crescent Heights High School, Calgary, Alberta. Wherever she went thereafter she worked tirelessly in promoting cultural awareness about her beloved native land. Following five years of study, in 1989 she received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Architectural Studies with Honors from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale Illinois. She worked on a number of architectural projects in Victoria B.C. and later on, in Southern Illinois (often referred to as Little Egypt), she designed custom built homes. Combining her, passion, humanism and love of architecture, she invited her clients into a process of creative collaboration. Once there Saide would then guide people who frequently started off with near dogmatic conclusions about what it was they wanted in a house, to a place where they discovered what it was they really needed to set the stage for making a home. The architectural forms she created truly evolved from the deepest meanings of; from the ground up. Routinely she freely offered and donated her time and expertise. Her generosity was pure and knew no limits. She never sought public attention, adulation or monetary gain for her creations. The joy she could bring to others was her motivation and her reward. Saide (sigh e day) transformed her lifetime of unrelenting physical pain and tragic loss into a world of endless creativity and love. Wife, mother, and sister, loyal daughter beyond measure, architect, artist, designer, painter, leader, nurturer and comforter; her vital spirit, enthusiasm and unique fiery sweetness enriched and energized the lives of others. Yes all this and truly so much more. The tendrils of love and deepest affection that she sowed across continents now extend back to her from her Native Turkey, many parts of the United Sates and Canada. Saides laughter and indomitable spirit will live on and carve out a garden in the abyss her loss creates. Whatever emptiness may persist will be filed with the enduring love we know that Saide bore us all. She would not have it any other way; though with her usual generosity of spirit she might remind you from time to time, to remember how to pronounce her name. Seni seviyorum Sevgilim. There will be a private ceremony for immediate family members only with no public funeral services. In lieu of flowers donations in her memory would be gratefully received by the Victoria Hospice and Palliative Care Foundation by clicking above on 'send gift'.