In Memory Of

Sybil Elfrida Sewell

Apr 7, 1944 - Aug 5, 2023

Service

Wednesday, August 23, 2023
2:00 pm
Covenant Christian Reformed Church - Rocky Mountain House

Interment

Leslieville Cemetery

Obituary

It is with deep sadness that we announce that our Mother, Wife, Sister, Sister In-law, Grandmother and Great Grandmother, Sybil Elfrida Sewell (nee Fish), went to be with our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ in the early morning of Saturday, August 5th, 2023 in Rocky Mountain House, Alberta.

Mum was born on April 7th, 1944 at Farnborough County Hospital in Kent, England. She was the youngest of two daughters from Arthur George Fish and Elfrida Mons Fish (nee Herbert). The area she grew up in and attended school was an area that was being rebuilt after the air raid bombings of World War II. In 1956 at the age of 12 her father passed away. In the spring of 1957 her mother, older sister and herself immigrated to Canada arriving in Quebec City, Quebec on May 27, 1957.

Mum graduated from High School and attended MacDonald University and McGill University, both in Montreal, Quebec to get her teaching degree in English. It was During this time that she met the love of her life Carl Montague Sewell while she was living in Huntingville, Quebec. They married after a lengthy courtship on July 17, 1965 in Coaticook, Quebec.

While living in their first apartment in Drummondville, Quebec, Mum continued with her job as a teacher until their first son Kenneth Carl was born on April 4th, 1967. Prior to their second son Iain Alex being born on July 4th, 1972, they moved to the farm in L'Avenir, Quebec. It was during this time that the donkeys started in Mum's life. She had a love of animals right from the get go when she was born and had trained for dressage and show jumping, English style of course. But with children now and a childhood knowledge of the "Winnie the Pooh" stories with Eeyore the donkey, she settled on donkeys and still abit of teaching part time as her focus. What started as a kind of donkey sanctuary for abandoned and misfit donkeys grew into a world renowned registered herd of Mammoth donkeys that at it's peak saw 40 donkeys on the farm in Leslieville, Alberta where Mum and family moved to in 1982 after a 1 year stop in Bluffton, Alberta after leaving Quebec in 1981. During the next many years, she promoted and showed the donkeys to the world with her highlights being able to attend Spruce Meadows in Calgary, Alberta several times with the donkeys and seeing one of the donkeys being sold and shipped all the way to New Zealand. She supported Carl im his woodworking business as well as writing articles about local people and concerns for the local newspapers as well as many magazines and newspapers further abroad. She also managed to write a book or two, do professional photography and also her art painting. She did well at all she tackled in her life.

The last several years Mum spent reducing the herd of donkeys and finally selling of the herd and then taking care of Carl as his health began to degrade. She is predeceased by her parents Arthur and Elfida Fish. Step father Angus Smith. Father and Mother in-law Montague and Bernice Sewell.

She leaves to mourn her husband of 58 years, Carl, sons Ken (Joyce) and Iain (Tara), sister Margret (Gilbert) Lane, sister in-law Janet (Eldon) MacDonald, grandchildren Kaitlin Stenbeck, Emily (Derik) Wolmarans and Alex Sewell. Great grandchildren Abby and Nate Wolmarans as well as numerous other relatives.

Mum was always there to lend a hand, encourage or talk as needed. You are missed already but not forgotten. Till we meet again.

Private family interment will be morning of August 23, 2023 at the Leslieville Cemetery in Leslieville, Alberta with a public Celebration of Life at 2:00 PM at Covenant Christian Reformed Church in Rocky Mountain House, Alberta.

Condolences may be offered to the family below.

Condolences

Lisa Flickinger:

So sorry to hear of the loss of such great people. I had the opportunity to interview them for a book I was writing. May good memories fill your heart.

Nancy and Bruce Boguski:

Our Sincere condolences. May you be given strength and peace during your time of sorrow.

Lucille Stewart-Loov:

My sincere condolences on your losses,
no words can take away your sorrows,
It takes time and God for that.
Prayers going out for the whole family.

Delores Bird:

To Sybil’s family,
I remember meeting Carl and Sybil when they first came to live in Leslieville.
My sincere condolences to you all.
Delores

Arnold & Heidi Taylor:

Sybil, we,ve had 27 years of knowing and loving you inspite of distances at times and situations in our respective lives...there are so many precious memories of outings, sharing our art work, gardening, building the workshop, and special dinners; we hold you in our hearts always. You and we will meet again one day, Hallelujah!

Della Lane and Gord Pfister:

We are so sorry for your loss our thoughts and prayers are with you all, I remember when us kids were younger and I came to stay at the farm and Auntie Syb lost her watch by the creek behind the house so we got a metal detector and Ken, Iain and myself went on a hunt we found Auntie Syb watch she was so happy lots of fun memories being on the farm sending our love

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