SYLVIA FOYLE
November 8, 1935 – June 5, 2020
Sylvia Foyle (nee: Korpan) of Vulcan passed away peacefully with her family at her side June 5, 2020 at the age of 84 years.
Sylvia was born in Edmonton, Alberta to Anton and Annie (nee:Laky) Korpan, one of eight daughters including Betty, Ellen, Pauline, Pat, Margaret, Jean and Marion. Anton was a hotelkeeper who moved his family to various locations throughout Sylvia’s childhood, including Ontario and British Columbia, finally settling in Vancouver. Sylvia attended John Oliver Secondary School before being diagnosed with Spinal Tuberculosis, She spent almost six months in the hospital after undergoing an invasive procedure to repair the damage to her back from the disease. It took many years for her to recover from the surgery and her back was never the same. One of Sylvia’s first jobs was working as a secretary with the Vancouver Police Department. There she met Ronald Foyle, a Police Officer, and they were married on March 10, 1959. Sylvia and Ronald had two children; Pamela Jean Foyle (August 15, 1962) and David Mathisen Foyle (May 9, 1968). Sylvia and Ronald’s marriage ended in 1968 and Sylvia became a single mother. Life as a single mother was no easy feat and Sylvia would spend the rest of her days caring and providing for her family to ensure they had the opportunities she hadn’t been afforded.
Sylvia loved her children fiercely and was sergeant-like to ensure they could survive and thrive. She worked part-time at various secretarial jobs while her children were little and at the same time bought cheap properties in east Vancouver to “fix-up” to supplement her income. Sylvia’s career included many roles, such as business owner, office clerk and secretary. Sylvia was a fantastic money manager; she could make a little bit of money go a long way. She helped everyone along the way on her single income, making sure her children and grandchildren were post-secondary educated and have various successful careers. With her guidance, they all learned that strong dedication to any task most always yields success. Although hard-work and career were integral to Sylvia’s existence, her family was her true life’s work. This became most evident with the birth of her two granddaughters, Dena and Suzy. Sylvia loved these two girls more than can be measured. She watched over them as well and provided an unconditional love that is hard to find. With the arrival of her grandchildren, Sylvia was more easily able to enjoy the fruits of her hard labour and she led us by example.
When Sylvia wasn’t working ,she enjoyed gardening, painting, both furniture and oils, spending endless hours with her grandchildren swimming, watching movies, cooking, baking, listening to music, giving advice and in her later years chain-smoking and drinking plenty of scotch.
Sylvia is survived by her daughter Pamela, and son David Foyle, granddaughters Dena (Mike) Hays and Suzy (Vince) Cardellini, great grandchildren Oden Cardellini, Nyssa Hays, Arlo Cardellini and Felix Hays, two sisters Ellen and Margaret, numerous nieces and nephews and a host of friends.
Sylvia was predeceased by her parents Anton and Annie, sisters Betty, Pauline, Pat, Jean and Marion.
A Celebration of her life will be held Saturday, June 13, 2020 at Central Church of Christ, 409-1St South Vulcan, at 11 am.
Sylvia’s family wishes to thank the Vulcan Community Health Centre for all the love, kindness and high quality care she received in her final weeks of life.
Tributes in memory of Sylvia could be made to Vulcan Community Health Centre Palliative Care Unit, Box 299, Vulcan T0L 2B0.
Arrangements in care of and condolences can be made through Vulcan Funeral Home at www.vulcanfuneralhome.ca Telephone 403-485-2633.