MAVIS MARGARITTA SYLVIA SAMBRANO, RN

Mavis Margaritta Sylvia Sambrano passed away peacefully on January 23, 2020, at Ian Anderson House at the age of 87. She was born Mavis Margaritta Sylvia Abraham in 1932 in Trinidad and Tobago, the third of four children to Ramey and Clementine Abraham. Sylvia was intelligent, highly driven and determined to obtain an education and raise a family. She worked diligently at school and progressed with honours throughout her academic career. At age 18, Sylvia competed in an international academic competition with over 100 students winning a scholarship to study in England. Sylvia would say it was from that day, she knew God was with her. It was at that time she met her future husband, Emmanuel Sambrano, whom she would wed some five years later.

Graduating from high school in 1949, Sylvia moved to London to study nursing. After three years she graduated with honours and began her studies to become a midwife. Two years later, upon graduating, Sylvia chose to remain in England to begin her first job at Rush Green Hospital in London.
Sylvia and Emmanuel were wed in 1959. While still living in England, they had two children, Angela and Michael. Canada offered a greater career opportunity for Sylvia as a midwife/nurse and Emmanuel as a Chartered Professional Accountant, as such, the family moved to Montreal, Canada in 1963, where their third child, Kevin, was born. In 1964 the family moved to Toronto.

During her professional career, Sylvia was a head nurse at St. John's Convalescence Hospital, Branson General Hospital, Scarborough General Hospital, and provided private nursing care for over 35 years. Sylvia was also a licensed real estate agent in Toronto. She lived, worked and raised a family for over 56 years until the time of her death in 2020.

An independent spirit, Sylvia's often-repeated sentiment was “Don't give up, don't ever give up, because God is always with you.” She raised her three children with this same adage God first, then education, then love. Always love because, “When everything else fails, God will never fail you. God is love.”

Sylvia was loving and full of life. She was funny, generous, and energetic, but most of all she loved her family—her children, daughters and sons-in-law, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was equally proud of each and every one of them. All were welcomed in her life and all were equally loved.

In 1974, at the age of 42, Sylvia became a born-again Christian remaining a faithful servant of God and a soldier of Christ for 46 years until her passing. Sylvia lived to spread the word of God to others. She left this world with love in her heart and scripture on her lips. God has called Sylvia home again and heaven will be a little bit brighter because of her spirit.

Sylvia is survived by her three children, Angela, Michael and Kevin, her grandchildren, Shannon, Candice, Aria and Georgia, and her great-grandchildren, Scarlett and Isaac.
Sylvia will be sadly missed and fondly remembered.

In honour of our beloved Mavis Margaritta Sylvia Sambrano in lieu of flowers donations can be made to Ian Anderson House by clicking on the Donations tab.