Sylvia Phillips
February 12, 1931 — May 28, 2014
Funeral Service
June 2, 2014
2:00 p.m.
Five Oaks Shared Ministries, Naicam SK
Sylvia Veda Phillips (Todd) was born on February 12, 1931, in Melfort, Saskatchewan, the second youngest child of Edith and Raymond Todd. Sylvia was one of four children. She grew up on Joe Hetland's farm, where her father worked until World War II began. At that time, her family moved into Saskatoon and her father went off to war. Sylvia completed grade eight and then began work at The Bessborough Hotel in order to help support her family. Sylvia married Darius Montgomery in 1948 and had a son, Eric Montgomery.
Sylvia married Walter Phillips, the love of her life, on February 19, 1960. They lived on their farm outside Naicam until 1993 when they took up residence in Naicam. Sylvia loved her life on the farm, working in the garden, tending her beautiful flower gardens, feeding hummingbirds and raising her children, whom she loved with all her heart. She enjoyed her life in Naicam with Walter, travelling, tending her garden and flowers and meeting friends for coffee at the Naicam Bakery. In 2005, one year after Walter passed away, she moved into Saskatoon, and took up residence in her new condo at the Sierras of Erindale, a retirement community in Saskatoon. She had an active life there with many new friends, whom she loved to meet twice a day for coffee at McDonalds. Five years ago Sylvia's dementia began to advance and in May 2010, her family moved her into The Franklin in Saskatoon, an assisted-living complex. She adapted well to life there and made many new friends, as she did wherever she went, being the intensely social person that she was.
During these years after Walter passed away, she enjoyed many trips out to Vancouver to visit her son Leon once and sometimes twice a year. But Sylvia's dementia continued to advance and at the beginning of 2012 she was moved into Quality Care Homes in Saskatoon, a personal care home where she received round-the-clock care. She once again bravely adapted to her new home and made a dear friend Malvina. Sylvia became very ill last summer and after a difficult two-month stay in the hospital was placed at Oliver Lodge, a long-term care facility in Saskatoon. She passed away there on May 28, surrounded by her loving children.
Sylvia was predeceased by her husband Walter (2004); her parents, Raymond (1967) and Edith (1985) Todd; sisters, Dorothy (1977) and Helen (1997); and brother Lloyd (2003). Sylvia loved her husband, children and grandchildren very much. She took great joy in socializing, travelling and dancing, which she was able to do until almost the end of her life. She leaves to mourn her son Leon (Kevin Griffin) of Vancouver; one daughter Darlene (Ken) Richardson of Saskatoon; three foster children, Erna (Murray Rogers) Daniels of Melfort, Wesley Kinequon (Bertha Kennedy) of Saskatoon, Wally Kinequon of Saskatoon; son Eric Montgomery; seven grandchildren, Jill and Jenna Richardson, Tyrone, Tamara, Melissa and Barrett Rogers, Chelsea Montgomery; four great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and a host of dear friends.