Sylvia May Weeks (nee Moss), resident of Grande Prairie, AB, passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 15, 2021, at Prairie Lake Senior Community at the age of 88 years.

Sylvia was born on June 17, 1933. She was raised on a farm in the Bridgeview area between Spirit River, AB, and Woking, AB.

She met and married Howard Ernest Weeks on November 12, 1952. They settled on a farm in the Northmark area, west of Woking, and had five children. Life on the farm was challenging but also rewarding. She loved music, writing poetry, and taking long walks to enjoy the views and everything God created. It was Sylvia who taught all her children how to dance. She worked tirelessly, and for that they thank her. She and Howard wished they had taught the kids to play more, but play they did with the imagination of farm kids.

On October 27, 1974, Sylvia was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses with whom she had studied the Bible off and on for some time. At the beginning of that month Sylvia commenced working at the Woking Elementary School as a Teacher’s Aide in the kindergarten class. She worked in that capacity for four school years. This job suited her as she was always ready and willing to get down to the kid’s level. The kids loved her and she loved them. In 1980, Sylvia and Howard sold the farm and moved to Grande Prairie, and shortly after she enrolled in the Grande Prairie Regional College taking classes in the fall semester, as well as the fall and winter of 1981 and 1982. Her focus was on writing. She enjoyed volunteering part-time in the QEII Hospital gift shop and logged more than 800 hours. It was important for her to always visit relatives who were patients, especially if they lived out of town.

Sylvia taught her kids values and life lessons that they all take pride in. She told one of her sons “It takes a bigger man to walk away from a fight than one who stands to fight.” So true. Her love of God’s word gave her hope that she clung to, a hope of life without terrible memories, a life with youthful, vigorous and endless days to enjoy His creation. A mother’s love means that they hope for the best for their children and never give up on them through bad times, and this was true for both Sylvia and Howard.

Sylvia loved her grandchildren and wished she could have spent more time with them. It was a joy to watch her with Valkyrie, as they visited and while shopping together for pretty things. They were kindred spirits.

Sylvia will be missed dearly by her five children: Gwen (Nathan) Ball, Lorne (Bev) Weeks, Brian (Vera) Weeks, Arlene (Wayne) Christensen, and Dennis Weeks; four grandchildren: Adrienne Weeks, Mackenzie Alstad, Meghan Weeks, and Jessica (Josh) Ricard; her only great-grandchild Valkyrie Pentland-Ricard; as well as nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Sylvia was predeceased by her husband Howard; parents Bill and Myrtle Moss; nephew Floyd Moss; brother Irvin Moss; sister Beth Gingerich; as well as brother in-law Frank Gingerich.

The family would like to thank Dr. Pope, her doctor since she moved to Grande Prairie, Dr. Groenwald, Dr. Akintola - ER Dr., and Dr. Siddiqui – a stroke specialist. These Doctors provided more than medical knowledge and the family is very grateful for them. Also, to all of the staff at Prairie Lake (Dunvegan Cottage and O’Brien) for their kind care since January 2014, especially when COVID-19 increased the Doctor’s work load and undoubtedly caused much stress.

A Memorial Service will be held over Zoom on Saturday, August 7, 2021, at 1:00pm (MDT). Zoom ID: 868 4740 8005 Zoom Passcode: 2414