Sylvia Fairbank

February 4, 1943 - November 22, 2017

Sylvia Jean Fairbank passed away suddenly in her sleep at home in Petrolia on Wednesday, November 22, 2017 at the age of 74. She was a well-loved vital force in her fiercely loved community for decades. She was an extremely active key volunteer in Petrolia Community Theatre, Christ Church Anglican, the Syrian Refugee Program, Art in the Park, the Victoria Hall Art Committee and a long list of other endeavours. She dedicated her boundless energy to a wide range of causes and committees since returning to her birth town in 1981 to raise her family. Organizer extraordinaire, there was no job that was too onerous or too small for her talents. Sylvia opened her house and her heart to actors, international students, kids of all ages, family and friends. She was blessed with many gifts which she shared with everyone - a wonderful hostess and cook, a beautiful singer, actor, seamstress, and church bell ringer. An intrepid traveller who worked in New Zealand and in Switzerland in her twenties, Sylvia journeyed to many countries over the decades. Sylvia had a fabulous hearty laugh. She radiated a true warmth, with a definite gift for friendship. When attending Bishop Strachan in Toronto in high school she forged lifelong friends. After obtaining her degree from the University of Toronto where she trained as a physiotherapist, she worked in Winnipeg, London and Hamilton before returning to Petrolia with her then husband Bob Henry and their new family. She travelled to countless homes in the county for many years and was always ready to treat any friend who walked through her door. She was “a rock” who many would turn to when in sorrow or difficulty and was a great help when her mother was ailing. She is survived by her children Caitlin MacGregor, (Neil) of Waterloo; Michael Charles Henry of Toronto, Rob Henry (Kelly) of Chicago and Devin Henry (Christina) of London, Ontario and her well-loved brother Charlie Fairbank (Pat McGee) of Oil Springs. She was the loving grandmother to August, Fletcher, Grace, Avery, Ella, Nathan, Evelyn and Jackson. She was the adored aunt to Young Charlie and Alex; and terrific cousin to Eve Harwood (Mark), Joe Harwood (Gisella) and Gord Graham (Bev). Sylvia will be greatly missed by multitudes. Visitation will be at Needham-Jay Funeral Home, 4059 Petrolia Line, Petrolia, on Friday, November 24 from 7-9 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 25 from 2 to 5 p.m. The funeral is Sunday Nov. 26, at Christ Church Anglican at 2 p.m.. Donations may be made to Charlotte Eleanor Englehart Hospital (www.ceehf.ca) or Petrolia Community Theatre. Memories and Condolences may be shared online at www.needhamjay.com, where a live-stream funeral link of Sylvia’s service will be found on Sunday. RECORDED MEMORIAL SERVICE LINK: CLICK BELOW https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzoPjYV21eI