Sylvia Margaret McPhee

July 18, 1932 – March 25, 2023

Sylvia passed away on March 25, 2023 at Toronto General Hospital in her 91st year. She will be remembered by her many nieces and nephews and their families and her friends. Predeceased by her brothers George McPhee and Douglas McPhee, sisters Connie Cussons, Sheelagh Riggin and Jean McPhee and parents Douglas and Nancy (Leather) McPhee.

In her hometown of London, Ontario, Sylvia developed an interest in education as a teenager which became a life-long passion. She trained as a teacher at the then London Normal School later obtaining an M.Ed. from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) in 1978. In London, she was a classroom teacher, consultant, vice-principal and principal and taught for a year at an infant school in Wales on an exchange program. She then moved to Toronto to join the Ontario Ministry of Education as an Education Officer where the province became her classroom. She also taught teachers at the post-graduate level and served on the OISE Board of Governors as well as being active in OISE’s Alumni Association. Her particular interest was early childhood education and she supported many organizations dedicated to furthering the development of young children. She was a strong advocate for early childhood literacy.

Sylvia had a life-long interest in the performing arts, first instilled in her by her father. She was an avid and knowledgeable attendee of theatre, opera, ballet and classical music performances. She supported many performing arts organizations both financially and as a volunteer, and particularly those that combine an art form with development of children, thereby combining two of her abiding interests.

Sylvia also had an interest in genealogy and was active in the Clan Macfie Society of Canada and served as the Commissioner for Canada to Clan Macfie.

The family would like to express its thanks to the staff at Toronto General Hospital for the care Sylvia received in her final days.

A Memorial Service and Celebration of Sylvia’s life will be held on Friday, June 9, 2023 at 1pm at the Kane-Jerrett Funeral Home.

Condolences at www.kanejerrett-thornhill.ca As an expression of sympathy, donations to organizations supporting early childhood education and development or the performing arts or the charity of your choice would be appreciated by the family.