With deep sadness we announce that Margaret Rose Sylvester passed away peacefully after a brief illness, surrounded by loving family at Belleville General Hospital in the evening hours of March 8, 2024. Marg was a wife and mother who gave generously of her knowledge, experience, empathy and love to her family.
She leaves behind her loving husband of 33 years John Sylvester, her children Carol Love (Joe Martin), William Love (Chantal Bureau-Starnes), Kern Sylvester (Linda Kang), Cory Sylvester (Kim Sylvester), Akili Sylvester (Karen Byrne), her grandchildren Melissa Love (Grayson Warawa), Julie Love (Jamie Pinkney), Ryan Love (Bailie Hartzke-McDonald), Makaela Sylvester, Isaac Sylvester, Madison Starnes, Noah Starnes and her great-grandchildren Malcolm Warawa and Jackson Pinkney.
Marg is pre-deceased by her father William George Leonard, mother Clorinda (Claire) Leonard, and sister Anne Bernard.
Marg had a long and fulfilling career as a teacher. She spent her early days teaching English at Sydenham HS. She later taught Special Education at Bendale Business and Technical Institute where she met John. She maintained a lifelong love of reading and was a member of several bookclubs.
Marg was an avid tennis fan, often watching the majors with John. She was club champion at Agincourt and Orton Park Tennis Clubs and was a founding member at Orton Park.
She kept active to the end, walking laps at the local fitness centre and enjoying a jazz concert in Kingston just days before falling ill. She loved music and liked to watch Carol and Joe perform. Marg loved to attend live theatrical performances, at theatres large and small. John and Marg made annual visits to the Stratford Festival.
She loved to host family gatherings and our large family holiday get-togethers were always imbued with her own impeccable sense of style.
Marg had a great sense of humour, a keen intellect, and a gentle and loving conversational style. Her passing is a great loss and she will be greatly missed.
The family plans a private celebration of life and interment of ashes, to take place at Cataraqui in April. Those who wish may make a donation in her name to their local SPCA to honour her love of animals.