Sylvia Philippi

It is with sadness and relief that we announce the peaceful death of Sylvia Philippi in the early hours of December 26th, 2022, following a lengthy illness, with her immediate family by her side. Sylvia lived to be 87 and will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all who had the opportunity to know her.

Sylvia is survived by her sons Stephan (Terri), Tim (Amber Pelletier) and daughter, Colleen (James Holroyd) and by her six grandchildren Anna, Matthew, Megan, Cate, Jane, and Nicolas. Sylvia leaves behind her brothers Joern (Anita) and Hubert (Elke) and their children Birgit, Annette and Jochen. Sylvia was predeceased by her husband, Dieter, and her parents Ursula (nee Pledge) and Gerhard Rasch.

Sylvia was born in Berlin, Germany on August 26th, 1935, but spent most of her early and teen years in Hamburg. She and her family survived the Second World War, living in Hamburg and, for two years, in Gera, Thüringia, Germany. In 1957, after her language and literature studies at Cambridge were cut short by the need to care for her father and brothers during her mother’s terminal illness, Sylvia began her career as a translator with Mobil Oil being fluent in both English and German, having had an English mother. Her career began in Hamburg but eventually took her to Geneva and New York City.

In the summer of 1967, while living in New York City, Sylvia received an invitation to visit an old friend of her mother's, Annie Philippi, who lived in Kenora, Ontario with her widowed son Dieter and his daughter Colleen. Sylvia and Dieter’s love at first sight whirlwind romance culminated in their wedding on February 10th, 1968. Sylvia spent fifty years in Kenora building a life with her husband, children, friends, and church communities. Together with Dieter she was an active member of the Kenora Bible and Lakeside Baptist Churches and the Gideon Women’s Auxiliary.

She and Dieter travelled extensively within Canada for the Gideons as well as on personal holidays, family visits and with Sylvia’s visiting brothers and nieces. Sylvia was also able to return to Germany on various trips both with Dieter and alone. She was ever a brave and intrepid traveler and made her final trip to see her brothers in 2019.

Sylvia continued living in Kenora for two years after Dieter’s death exerting her independence and pragmatism, by not only packing up the family home on her own but selling it on her own as well. On August 15th, fifty years to the day that she first stepped out of Dieter’s truck onto the driveway of the home that he had built, she moved to Winnipeg into her flat at Lindenwood Manor. She took immense pleasure living in the biggest apartment that she had ever occupied while living alone. She also greatly enjoyed, once again, being a city girl. As always, Sylvia jumped into the community serving on the Resident’s Board, volunteering in the library and plant room and being a loyal friend and supporter to her fellow residents. During covid, she took pleasure in being declared an essential worker at the library.

In the summer of 2021, Sylvia began feeling unwell and was diagnosed with Stage Four Pancreatic Cancer. She long outstripped her doctors’ predictions of life expectancy, living for another eighteen months. During that time, she lived her life with stoic grace, bracing courage and good humour. While she could no longer bake treats or cook meals for those needing comfort or encouragement with the regularity she had once done, she continued offering an interested and empathetic ear. Anyone who had the opportunity to spend time with her during these months undoubtedly left inspired and profoundly moved by her dignified strength. Sylvia was guided by principals that were rooted in her deep faith in God and His word. To the end, her faith was unshakeable, an inseparable part of her being.

A Service of Remembrance will be held in the Fireside Room at Whyte Ridge Baptist Church in Winnipeg on May 5th at 1:30 pm. A light reception will be held after the service.

Sylvia’s family wishes to thank the staff at the Riverview Palliative Unit for the exceptional standard of professional and compassionate care provided, Palliative Manitoba and Lindenwood Retirement Living.

Donations in Sylvia’s memory may be made to the Riverview Palliative Unit or the Union Gospel Mission.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.thomsonfuneralchapel.com for the Philippi family.