Sybil Eleanor Chandler

Sybil Chandler died on August 3, 2025, at her home in Woodstock surrounded by family. July was a difficult month for her and after a stay at Woodstock Hospital she requested a MAiD assessment, something she’d discussed doing for several years. She was pleased she could take control of her life one last time.

Sybil Beel was the eldest of five, born to dairy-farming parents in Lincolnshire, England. In 1949, the family left England for a new life in Canada. It was here she met aspiring farmer, Peter, another fresh arrival from England. Despite her girlhood wish to avoid farmwife life, their connection was strong. They married in 1951 and farmed first in Oxford County and then near Wingham. They retired 40 years ago.

Living in the Ilderton house that Peter built, the couple enjoyed a rich retirement of round dancing, travelling, gardening, woodcarving, and connecting with the string instrument world through Peter’s retirement career as a luthier.

When Peter died suddenly in 2007, Sybil’s “get ‘er done” attitude made her the poster child for widowhood and retirement living. At 83, she culled her things and sold the house on her own. Putting herself out there socially as a solo person was new territory, but she was proud of the social connections she made at Woodstock’s Oxford Gardens where she lived for 13 years.

Sybil’s five children — Judith (Toronto), Cathy (Ingersoll), Helen (Hilton Beach), Phil (Espanola), and Celia (Toronto) — are grateful for her legacy of laughing at life’s absurdity, independence, enjoying food, scrupulous financial record keeping, and occasionally humming the northern England folksong, “On Ilkla Moor Baht 'at.” Others missing her include her grandchildren: Laura & Elizabeth, Perry & Tracy, Emily & Juan, and Christopher & Taylor; Perry and Tracy's five children Joshua, Julian, Max, Leah, and James; sons-in-law, Gord and Bob; and staff and friends at Oxford Gardens.

If she’s surprised and there IS an afterlife, she’ll reunite with her husband, Peter, and her son-in-law, Jack, whose 2018 MAiD death inspired her own, as well as her parents, four brothers, and other extended family.

Sybil was a regular supporter of food banks, reflecting a lifelong priority of eating well. If you’d like to honour her memory, please donate, if you are able, to your local food bank.

The Chandler family thanks the staff at Oxford Gardens for their many years of support and companionship, and a special thanks to Dr. Thomas, who facilitated her death. Please join them to celebrate Sybil’s 97 years at Brock & Visser Funeral Home, 845 Devonshire Ave., Woodstock (519-539-0004) on Sunday, October 26, 2025, from 12 pm - 2 pm. Family will begin sharing memories at 12:30pm. Sybil will be laid to rest with her beloved husband Peter at Zion Cemetery.

If you would like the family to be notified of a memorial donation you have made, please contact the funeral home.