SYLVIA CRITCHLEY (PANKHURST)

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

SYLVIA CRITCHLEY (nee PANKHURST) Peacefully, on Sunday, February 24, 2008, Sylvia passed away at the age of 86 at the Heritage Lodge Personal Care Home. Sylvia will truly be missed and lovingly remembered by her sons, Lorne (Tammy) and David (Tracy); grandchildren, Kyle, Jill, Cory and Cari-Ann; sisters, Del Pankhurst and Hilda (Dr. Sam) Loschiavo; as well as many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents George and Rose Pankhurst, her husband Jack in January 1976, and daughter Linda (Blackburn) in August 2000. Born July 8, 1921, in Winnipeg, Sylvia grew up in Weston on East Street, then on Burnell Street in the West End attending Cecil Rhodes School and graduating from Daniel McIntyre Collegiate in 1939. She went on to work at Eaton's where she made lifelong friendships and then on to the Department of Veterans Affairs where, in 1948, she met the love of her life Jack Critchley whom she married in June of 1949. A year later, they bought a home on Dominion Street in the West End and brought into the world their only daughter Linda. Two years later, their first son Lorne was born to be followed by son David two years after that. Sylvia was a stay at home Mom always putting the needs of her family first. Some of her other interests included traveling, her Bridge Club, Badminton at Harstone Church every Tuesday afternoon and cycling through the neighbourhood of Silver Heights where she and Jack made their home in June 1963. Sylvia's number one passion was swimming. She swam a mile a day at the St. James Civic Centre until she was 81. She was always a kind and extremely generous person, a fabulous cook and a loving mother and grandmother. On Friday, February 29, Sylvia's funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. in the Sturgeon Creek United Church, 207 Thompson Drive. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Sylvia's memory to the charity of one's choice.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 27, 2008