Sylvia McMECHAN

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McMECHAN: Sylvia Margaret McMechan (Dailey), born June 15, 1919, passed away peacefully with her daughters by her side in William Booth Special Care Home in Regina, on January 31, 2018. She was in her 99th year. Due to her father passing away and mother’s illness, Mother had to quit school at an early age. For this reason, she decided to return to Adult Education Courses in the 80’s, graduating with a Grade 12 diploma and as class valedictorian on her 90th birthday. This occasion caused much public interest in the media and many regarded her as a role model for other seniors. Growing up in the 30’s was not easy. Sylvia served as a hired girl in several households in the area. She was one of the early telephone operators in Deloraine and was the first woman to be allowed to continue working in the Toronto Dominion Bank after her marriage. Sylvia taught music lessons, was a loving wife and mother, a farmer’s wife and worked in several different capacities in Hasselfield Drugs where she regarded the people in the workplace as an extension of her own family. Her work ethic was an amazement to us all. She was an engaging story teller and regaled us with stories of her experiences, such as, carrying a gun while money was carried from the bank to the train in the 1940’s. Mother enjoyed life immensely and entertained her family and numerous old and new friends with her delicious luncheons and suppers. Mother never forgot a birthday or an anniversary. Christmas, Easter, and Thanksgiving were special occasions. Sylvia read her Bible on a daily basis and was very generous with her time and finances. She really tried to live her faith. From childhood, she was a very dedicated member of St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, serving as Sunday School teacher, organist, pianist, and secretary-treasurer. In the 80’s she assisted with the ecumenical movement in Deloraine, by serving several luncheons to all the clergy in the area in her home. She was also a former member of the Rebekah Lodge. With her beloved husband, Bill, she square danced and round danced for close to 40 years. Together they travelled in Canada, the US, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand with tours, friends and their family. Bill and Sylvia were married 48 years when he passed away in 1992. In later years, Mother especially looked forward to spending time in Ottawa with Bob and his family, and summer vacations such as Clear Lake with the entire family. She especially enjoyed a cruise to Alaska on Bette and Ralph’s 40th anniversary. A recent highlight was a trip to Calgary in 2015 to visit her great-grandchildren. By 2011, Sylvia realized she needed to be closer to her family and she moved to Regina where she spent several enjoyable years at Qu’Appelle House only after illness caused her to move to William Booth in 2016. Mother was very musical, and could play the piano by ear or by note. Despite being deaf, she earned her Grade X piano in her senior years. She continued to play the piano for the enjoyment of herself, friends and family when she was 98 years old. “Thank-you for the music, Mom, and for giving it to me”. Sylvia was predeceased by her parents Henry (1933) and Rose (Edna Pearl) Dailey (Lyons) in 1962, her brother Lon (1986), sisters-in-law Bertha, Julia and brother Melvin Daily (1988), sister-in-law Dorothy, sister Phyllis (1918), nephew George Dailey (2006), her loving husband Bill McMechan (1992), her only son Dr. Robert McMechan (Bob) (2016), brother-in-law Jack (Eliza) McMechan (1995), sisters-in-law Mary McMechan (1994), Margaret (John) McGee (1989), Annie (Allan) Bryson (1996), nephew Barry McMechan (2009). She is sadly missed by her daughters Joan (Ben) Veselovsky and Bette-lou (Dr. Ralph) Paragg and her grandchildren, Karla (Jeff) and Dr. Jillian Paragg, Laurie (Joel) Souchotte, Philip McMechan (Kristie) and her great-grandchildren, Blake, Chloe, and Isla. Other survivors include: Bob’s partner, Allison Woyiwada, Tyler, Marya (Alain) Woyiwada and Sasha, plus several nieces, nephews and friends. A Celebration of Life Service conducted by Rev. M. Canning and Rev. Joy Ruddock was held in St. Andrew’s, Deloraine on June 16, 2018 Pianists were Dale Whetter and Allison Woyiwada. Soloists were Marya Woyiwada and Jim Lewthwaite. Memorials may be made to St. Andrew’s, Deloraine or CNIB.

As published in Brandon Sun on Jul 07, 2018