ESRA mourns the passing of a stalwart volunteer worker and supporter of the aims of our organization. Sybil and her husband Solly, formerly of South Africa, fulfilled their dream of coming on aliyah as retirees in 1977. Their three children had all married by then and had settled in America and Canada, but Sybil and Solly chose Israel and made their home in Ramat Hasharon determined to realize their lifelong dream.
The couple integrated well into the community and made many friends. Unfortunately, Solly passed away a short seven years later. Sybil had already committed herself to volunteering for ESRA and for over 30 years she supported our projects and diligently distributed ESRAmagazines in Ramat Hasharon. She won an award from ESRA in 2005 as an outstanding volunteer.
This was the nature of this fine lady - when she volunteered she gave her all to the task at hand. It was so too with her commitment to the Blind Bowlers Association. Initially she assisted in establishing a beautiful garden at the Ramat Hasharon Bowling club, as gardening was one of her passions and talents. An enthusiastic bowler herself she became active in guiding blind bowlers. Enthusiastic, energetic and always reliable the Blind Bowlers Association presented her with an award of appreciation for her dedication.
Passionate about Israel past and present, she attended archeological lectures at Tel Aviv University every week well into her nineties, taking painstaking handwritten notes. Very independent, driving her car into her old age, Sybil was never idle. When over 90 years old, her caring and concerned family convinced her to move to Beth Protea, Herzliya. She quickly made it her home getting busy knitting bed socks for the residents of the nursing unit, playing her fine game of bridge, and joining the carpet bowls group. Always an avid and enthusiastic reader she volunteered her assistance in the library whenever needed and in between all her commitments spent every spare moment reading her beloved books.
Sybil is deeply missed by her devoted children, Dianne, Stella and Simon, their spouses, her six grandchildren and six great grandchildren as well as by her many friends and ESRA.
She leaves a legacy of humility and gratitude for a fine life well lived.