Sylvia Ashby

February 23, 2022, at the age of 91.

Sylvia was born on October 8, 1930, to Edward Hassall-Burdge and Elizabeth Anne Thomas in Tonyrefail, an industrial village in the Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough, Wales. She left home in 1948 and joined the Woman’s Air Force where she worked as an instrument repair person. She was the first woman to be posted to a Squadron (No. 73).

She married her late husband Norman Edward Charles Ashby in 1951, and they went on to have three children – Nicholas, Alison and Christopher. They emigrated to Canada on November 2, 1956.

Sylvia trained to be a Nursery School teacher and opened a school at R.C.A.F. Trenton in 1959, where she continued to work until 1965. The family transferred to Germany in 1965 where they remained until 1966 when they returned to Ottawa. Soon after she became a teacher at the Ottawa Day Nursery on King Edward Avenue. In 1970, she assisted with setting up a daycare at the Protestant’s Children’s Village on Carling Avenue and became the Professional Chairperson of the early Childhood Educators of Ontario, also sitting on the Board of Directors. In 1972, she taught Early Childhood Education at

St. Lawrence College in Cornwall. In 1974, she became the Administrator at the Smith Fall’s Child Development Centre and worked with special needs children. In 1978, Sylvia and her husband moved to Victoria, B.C. where she taught at the The Bishop Cridge Centre for the Family. In 1980, she started a new daycare at the Fernwood Community Centre, and in 1982 started one at Spring Ridge. In 1986, Sylvia retired but continued to volunteer with the Cancer Society, Esquimalt Wellness Centre, Needs Crisis Line, the Victoria General Hospital and the Royal Jubilee Hospital.

Sylvia is predeceased by her beloved husband Norman in 2020; her parents; her siblings, Jack, Margaret, Hazel, Colin, Brian and Lawrence; and her son-in-law, Evert.

Sylvia is survived by her children, Nicholas (Debbie), Alison (Stephen), Christopher (Deb); her grandchildren, Amanda (Chris), Nancy (Brad), Joey (Kate), Colin (Karen), Trevor (Carrie), Christine (Ryan), Phillip, Kathleen and Stephanie; and her great grandchildren, Dylan, Cody, Logan, Connor, Brody, Jonah, Leah, Sofia, Charlotte, Gavin and Caleb. She also leaves behind her sister, Esme.

A special thank you to all the great people at Reva Glenwarren Lodge Longterm Care Home.

There will be no service at this time. Should you wish to make a donation in her honour, please consider the Victoria General Hospital, Royal Jubilee Hospital or the Alzheimer Society.