September 18, 1919 - October 15, 2018
Sylvia Mary Teal (nee Collier-Wright) passed away at home in White Rock, B.C., after a brief illness on Monday, October 15th with her grandson Christopher and carer Mae at her side.
The youngest child of John Robert and Phyllis Hurrell (Walters) Collier-Wright, Sylvia survived her two beloved older siblings John Hurrell and Margaret (Peggy) Mawle. She was born on September 18, 1919 near her parent's home "Salthaven" on Wright Road, French Creek, Vancouver, Is.
Sylvia was predeceased by her dearly beloved husband Aubrey Teal, and great-granddaughter Linnea Jorgensen. She is survived by her three children, Virginia "Ginny" Jorgensen (Roy) of Ocean Park, Surrey, Dr. Philip Teal (Anda) of Vancouver, and Dr. Gregory Teal (Dominga Meson de Teal) of Sydney, Australia; by grandchildren Christopher Jorgensen (Dr. Corrine Searle) of Langley, Carmel Jorgensen (Mauricio Montiel) of Ocean Park, Surrey, Heather Jorgensen (Chris Pandiak) of South Surrey, Gillian Segal (Adam) of Vancouver, Charlotte Teal, Esq. of Vancouver, and Jose Gregorio Teal Meson of Sydney, Australia; also by great-grandchildren Solea Jorgensen; Neil, Ian, Rainne and Lily Jorgensen; Annika and Elena Montiel Jorgensen, and Georgia Segal.
At four years old, Sylvia travelled to England to stay with relatives because of an illness in the family. At six, she started boarding school in England. At seven, she returned home, and the family moved to Oak Bay, Victoria. However, her brother John then sadly, for his sisters, went to boarding school and later university in England. In Victoria, Sylvia and her older sister attended Norfolk House School, graduating in 1936.
In those years, Sylvia enjoyed playing sports, including field hockey and tennis, and was proud of her medal from the Victoria Tennis Club. She wanted to earn a Bachelor of Physical Education, and went to the only school in Canada specializing in the subject at the time, the Margaret Eaton School of Physical Education, affiliated and later amalgamated with the University of Toronto.
During the summers Sylvia worked as a counselor at Wollcroft Girls Summer Camp close to Nanoose Bay, and at Glen Bernard Girls Summer Camp in Ontario. Sylvia's first job as a teacher started at Vancouver's York House School from 1939-1944. Years later, Sylvia enjoyed visiting her grand-daughters Gillian and Charlotte at the school.
The most important part of her life, Sylvia said, started when she met Aubrey Teal, of Ridgeway, Ontario, in the summer of 1942, two weeks before he finished Canadian Army Officer Training in Gordon Head, Victoria. Before Aubrey went overseas, Sylvia briefly met his parents and two dear sisters, Louise and Helen in Ontario at Christmas time.
Despite that initial short time together, Sylvia and Aubrey had an instant understanding between each other. Wanting to be closer to Aubrey in Europe, Sylvia moved to St. John's to teach school for the 1945-46 school year. When peace was declared, Sylvia moved to Toronto, and taught at Bishop Strachan School. The following year, still waiting for Aubrey to return from Europe, she taught at Havergal College. They married in August 1947.
After marriage, Sylvia and Aubrey lived first in Wyoming, and later in Nevada, where Ginny and Philip were born, onto Michigan where Gregory was born, then back to Canada, first in Ontario for three years, and then to Alberta for 25 years. In Edmonton, Sylvia taught Kindergarden, as well as some tennis. They retired to Ocean Park, Surrey in 1979, and to their last home in White Rock in 1988. When Aubrey became ill, Sylvia devoted several years to his well-being and care.
Sylvia had a gift for lively wit, making new friends, and keeping in touch with her old friends. She lived independently in her home, with gratitude for the support to continue to do so provided by her children, their spouses, her grandchildren, her wonderful condo neighbours, and in her last few months, her two wonderful carers.
She enjoyed daily outings for coffee, and her twenty-year strong weekly bridge group. She was an active member of the White Rock United Church (now Peninsula United Church), the Peace Arch Hospital Auxiliary, a social yet serious bowler at the Mann Park Lawn Bowling Club, and the oldest member of her bi-weekly seniors exercise group. Sylvia loved flowers, gardens, and reading books. She supported the local libraries, the Canadian Wildlife Federation and the Kidney Foundation of Canada. Sylvia had an accomplished and remarkable life and will be sadly missed, and greatly appreciated, by her family and friends.
The service will be held at the Crescent United Church at a date to be published later in January 2019.