SYLVIA SIGRUN BATY (MAGNUSSON)

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SYLVIA SIGRUN BATY (MAGNUSSON) February 16, 1928 - December 30, 2008 The Rose in the Centre of our Family Bouquet Mother, Grandmother, Amma, Sister, Aunt and Friend It is with great sadness that Margaret and Lorraine announce our Mother, Sylvia Sigrun Baty, closed her eyes and the gates of Heaven opened to her on December 30, 2008 at the Grey Nuns Hospital, Palliative Care Unit 43, Edmonton, Alberta after being diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer six months ago. Mom joined our Dad, whom she affectionately called Stan, her loving husband of 40 years who left us December 7, 1987. The Heavenly family reunion includes her beloved parents Einar (1963) and Olaf (1983) Magnusson of Selkirk, MB; her caring brothers John Magnusson (1983) and Einar Magnusson (2006) both of Selkirk, MB; beloved sister Florence Fraser (2006) of Salem, Oregon; Einar's wife Helen, Magnus' wife Julia, Florence's husband Stewart, Dad's brothers and their wives John and Marcelle Baty, Arthur and Jean Baty, and Dad's sister, Ellen Batey. Mom also joins other extended family members, childhood school friends, and many veteran friends from Manitoba and Edmonton's Pleasantview neighbourhood. Mom will be sadly missed, forever loved and always remembered by her daughters and sons-in-law, Margaret and Bruce Aubert of Edmonton and Lorraine and Jeffrey May of Newmarket, Ontario; forever cherished by her granddaughters and grandsons, Meredith Aubert of Edmonton, Elizabeth and Geof Steichen of Danville, California, Brennan May and Holden May, both of Newmarket; and Amma's memory will live forever in the hearts of her great-grandchildren, Zachary Aubert of Edmonton and Samantha Speers and Colin Speers of Danville, California. Sylvia will be lovingly remembered by her eldest sister Lil Nicol, brothers and sisters-in-law Magnus Magnusson, Victor and Helga Magnusson, and Eva Magnusson Hawryshko, all of Selkirk; and Dad's sister and brother-in-law Pat and Howard Edmunds of Edmonton. She will also be missed and fondly remembered by several nephews, many nieces, and their families. Sylvia will be remembered as well by many extended family and other friends in Selkirk, Winnipeg, Salem, Yorkton, Coquitlam and Edmonton, including Pleasantview and Heritage Mansion neighbours, and many Hong Kong Veterans' Association members. Mom was born February 16th, 1928 in Selkirk Manitoba, the last girl and second youngest of seven children born to Icelandic parents. Due to typhoid fever at age two, Mom was frail and started school late at age seven. Although shy, she was a quick learner, and especially talented with sewing and needlecrafts, particularly petit point and knitting. Finishing school at the end of the Second World War, she worked first for Booth Fisheries and later at Sinclair's Café in Selkirk. It was at the café where she first met Stanley Baty, a Winnipeg Grenadier who had just returned from the Second World War and imprisonment for almost four years in Japan. Sylvia and Stan married March 1, 1947 and moved to Winnipeg. Their first child Margaret was born in 1948 while Stan apprenticed as a Printing Pressman. After his apprenticeship, Stan worked in Winnipeg as a journeyman pressman, but in 1955 found employment and moved the family to Edmonton. Family was an integral part of both Sylvia's and Stan's life. After the move to Alberta, they took every opportunity to travel back to Selkirk and Winnipeg to be with family for vacations, Christmas, and many special occasions. Mom's parents, Dad's mother, and all of their brothers, and sisters complete with their families were frequent visitors to our Edmonton home. From 1956, they lived in the same small home on a half acre lot in the Veteran's area of Pleasantview. They tended a large vegetable and flower garden, made many wonderful friends, and eventually saw both their daughters educated, graduate and married. Mom was a wonderful homemaker, taking pride in her home and the family. She also enjoyed working at Johnstone Walker's until the birth of their second daughter Lorraine in 1963. Travelling usually meant seeing family but Mom and Dad enjoyed a winter vacation in Oahu and she would have loved to have made another trip there. Over the years, Sylvia encouraged and supported her daughters Margaret and Lorraine in their endeavours, was proud of their accomplishments, the advancements of Bruce and Jeff, and the varied activities of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. When Stan passed away in 1987, Mom stayed in their home for an additional five years before moving into a condominium in south Edmonton, where she resided until her admission to the Grey Nuns hospital. Mom faced pancreatic cancer with great dignity and quiet resolve appreciating the support of the caring staff, and the wisdom of the Palliative care physicians. Margaret, Lorraine and our family extend sincerest thanks and appreciation to Dr. Doreen Oneschuk, Dr. Abdul Shukkoor, Dr. Pablo Amigo, all the staff and volunteers of Unit 43, Palliative Care Unit, and other Grey Nuns Hospital employees for their compassionate care, support, guidance, respect, and dignity shown to our Mother and ourselves. We also extend our gratitude to family and friends who phoned, sent cards, photos, emails, remembrances, best wishes, and generally supported Mom and the members of our family over these difficult months. Memorial donations may be sent to Grey Nuns Palliative Care, Room 4030, Grey Nuns Hospital, 1100 Youville Drive West, Edmonton, Alberta, T6L 5X8 in support of Palliative Staff Education Fund; or to your local Animal Shelter. Messages of condolence and memorable stories may be sent to Margaret at baubert@telusplanet.net and Lorraine at mayhome@sympatico.ca Mom, how blessed we are to be chosen to share in your life. You leave us deeply saddened which makes saying goodbye so hard, but we are left with wonderful memories and love. You have touched us so deeply; your mark on our hearts will remain indelible forever. Your spirit, your compassion, your quiet patience, traditions, heritage, family love, and faith, we will cherish and carry with us forever. These will be passed down through our family's generations with love and gratitude. Respecting Mom's wishes, cremation has taken place and a Memorial service will be held at a later date at the Lutheran Church where Mom was christened and confirmed in Selkirk, Manitoba. Mom's ashes will join Dad's in St. John's Anglican Church Columbarium, Winnipeg, Manitoba. Foster McGarvey (780) 428-6666

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 03, 2009