Sylvia Isabelle Strapps-Coon

Sylvia Isabelle Strapps-Coon, age 88 of Plymouth passed away on February 17, 2024.

She was born on December 21, 1935 in Hamilton, Ontario Canada to her parents, the late Beatrice Maud (née Crofts) and Wilsey Walter Strapps.

All who knew Sylvia would agree that first and foremost, “Sylvia was truly an English Lady.”  She was polite, refined, educated and held a Bachelor’s Degree.  Sylvia was well-mannered,  well-spoken and well-read.  She was an avid reader and would always make time to shut off all distractions and immerse herself into a good book.  She dressed impeccably and possessed grace, elegance and refinement.   She loved beautiful things and perhaps that is why she held such a deep appreciation for the beauty of art, poetry, theater and music.   She too was a musician and played the piano.  

She shared her love for the theater with one of her first cousins, Roger Pilon who was an actor in a production of “Phantom of The Opera”.  She not only saw the beauty in the arts and all other artistic works, but also appreciated the beauty in the animals she loved.  She viewed them as another of God’s masterpieces of the world.  She enjoyed watching them run and play.  And in turn, they felt loved and appreciated by her.

In keeping with her love of anything connected to the arts, she treasured the beauty of nature in her love of camping and her creative thinking was inspired through walks in the outdoors.  She loved being surrounded by greenery and natural elements.

In April of 1912, Sylvia’s mother, Beatrice travelled to the United States by ship over the North Atlantic Ocean from England.  Her original travel plan was to set sail for arrival into North America on RMS Titanic, but they missed embarkment by one hour and were forced to board the Tuetonic.   After her arrival, she settled in Canada where Sylvia grew up on the shores of Lake Ontario. 

In the 1990’s, Sylvia and Vern travelled to England to visit her homeland and learn more about her ancestry.  After that trip, she devoted 35 years to creating binders for each of her children containing family tree, genealogy and ancestor information.  It was a labor of love and gift to her children.  It was important to Sylvia for her children to connect more deeply with a sense of self by learning about their family’s past – where they came from, who they were, what they did, their accomplishments and the dreams they had.  

Even though she was born in Canada, she with most Canadians was an avid Royal Watcher.   She simply was fascinated with the Royal family and enjoyed the goings on of what’s happening with each of them.   She loved their drama, the scandals, weddings and most assuredly she was glued to her TV during the coronation of King Charles III.  

Sylvia was a kind-hearted and loving soul.  She loved being with people and always wanted to help them.  Her generosity was a way of life and she never expected recognition.  She treated everyone with respect and dignity.  

She believed that we need to not only take care of this world, but also take care of ourselves.  For that reason, Sylvia was a vegetarian for many years and believed it was one of the healthiest ways to eat.  She included in her diet a daily consumption of chocolate, coffee flavored yogurt and an occasional nightcap of ginger brandy and hot milk.

Sylvia’s family tells us that her marriage to Vern was “truly a love story.”   Together they created a beautiful life filled with love and laughter.  Both Sylvia and Vern, by the examples they set to their children and grandchildren, left a true legacy of love.  Their love for their children and grandchildren was unwavering.  They cherished every moment they spent with each of them.

Sylvia loved the music of the 1970's which was an era of "happy music lyrics".  Her home was filled with music while she was doing chores, cooking, cleaning house, reading, or even while she was exercising on her stationary bike.  But even with the love she had for the happy music of the 1970s, one ballad stood out and could always stir her heart.  It was a ballad that had been composed over 100 years ago.  It was "Danny Boy" - a beloved Irish ballad.  Her deep love and understanding of poetry also extended to her ability to extract the meaning of the song lyrics.  Some think of this song as one of the national anthems of Ireland.  For Sylvia, most likely, she understood the story within the ballad that expresses the sorrow of loss or departure of loved ones and the hope of one day returning home for a happy reunion.  "Danny Boy" truly expresses that loss or departure and gives us hope of a reunion and meeting again upon returning home in the phrases, "But come ye back when summer's in the meadow..." and the last phrase says, "And I shall sleep in peace until you come to me!"   Sylvia will re-unite with her beloved husband Vern who just passed away on November 30, 2023.  Sylvia held the belief of a higher presence of Mother Nature and a supreme celestial deity.

Sylvia is the loving mother of Nancy (John) Maynard and Marie (Tim) Strang and very proud grandmother of Shane (Sean), Jeremy, and Lilja.  She is also survived by her daughter-in-law Pat Enright.   Sylvia is pre-deceased by her son Brian and her grandson David.

Friends may visit the Schrader-Howell Funeral Home, 280 South Main Street, Plymouth, Michigan on Monday, February 26, 2024 from 4:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M.

A Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday, February 27, 2024 beginning at 4:00 P.M. at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 574 South Sheldon Road, Plymouth. 

Those who wish to honor the memory of Sylvia Isabelle Strapps-Coon are invited to consider a contribution to the Humane Society of Huron Valley, P. O. Box #7026 - Liberty Station, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48107-7026.

Contribution envelopes will be available at the Funeral Home.