Sylvia May Webster (nee Jacobson)
May 3, 1943 - July 12, 2013
Sylvia passed away at the Grey Nuns Hospital Palliative Care Unit at 70 years old. She will be forever missed by her loving husband Allen, son Larry and wife Sheila (children Wade and Zander, step-children Hannah, Joel, Kevin (Janice), Tiffany and Michael), and daughter Lori Ann Hiller and husband Collin (children Kaitlynd, Addison and Rebecca).
Sylvia was predeceased by her parents Oscar and Margaret Jacobson, infant brother Marlin, and sisters Valerie and Betty. She is survived by her sisters Marjorie, Lorna (Max) and Dorothy (Eldon); brothers Arnold (Darlene), Gordon, Stanley, Allen (Helen), Blake and Lyle; sister-in-law Joan (Bob) and brother-in-law Doug (Rose). She is also survived by twenty-one nieces and nephews, twenty-eight great-nieces and nephews, and several close friends and other family members.
Sylvia was raised on the family farm at Donalda. For grades one to eight she attended the Ibsen country school to which she either walked, rode horseback or her bike with her various siblings. For some time she was paid to stay after school and clean the schoolhouse. From there she attended the school in Donalda where she finished grade 11 with honors.
Upon finishing her schooling, she went to Stettler to start work as a telephone operator at AGT on June 1959. This turned out to be her lifelong career and she retired from the Red Deer office March 1995, which was a total of 35 years of service.
In 1961 she met the love of her life, the man she would spend the rest of her life with, Allen Webster. By May of 1962 they were engaged and later married in October of the same year. Son Larry was born in November 1963 and daughter Lori in August 1966. She loved music and sang to her children often at night. The family lived in Stettler until 1984 and then moved to Red Deer.
Despite a full time career and raising two young children, Sylvia remained very involved in helping her mother and siblings throughout her life time. She was known for her great memory of everyone's significant dates and special gifts.
Finally in Red Deer she was able to develop her passion for flower gardening and was known for her attention to detail. Her love of music continued throughout her lifetime and passed on to her three special grandchildren, Kaitlynd, Addison and Rebecca. Her husband also blessed her with many good times attending concerts and music festivals throughout their travels in North America. In 1990 Allen surprised Sylvia with a chance to record 'Coal Miner's Daughter' at American Studios in Nashville, TN.
After retirement in 1995, Sylvia and Allen moved to Edmonton where she continued to lend support to him in his business until his retirement ten years later. In 2003 she and Allen moved to an acreage south of Leduc, which they happily shared with their daughter Lori's family. She enjoyed the close proximity to her grandchildren which afforded her a greater opportunity to be involved in their daily lives. She was able to develop larger flower gardens, of which her rock garden was her pride and joy.
When Allen retired in 2005 they were able to increase their travelling. Special family trips included Florida, Hawaii, New York and the Caribbean, where they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Other trips were also enjoyed with extended family and friends.
Sylvia retained the joy and simplicity of country hospitality by hosting many family meals. Having her family around meant the world to her and she was able to enjoy this simple pleasure right until the end.
Sylvia went home to her Lord July 12, 2013. Her public memorial was held July 19, 2013 at Leduc Fellowship Church.
As an expression of sympathy and in loving memory of Sylvia Webster contributions may be made to the Grey Nuns Hospital Palliative Care Unit (#43) through the Caritas Hospitals Foundation (http://www.caritashospitalsfoundation.org/how-to-donate), or to Leduc Fellowship Church.