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Sylvia Lucille Durity quietly left us on February 9, 2021, at her home in Alexandria, Virginia.
Saddened by her passing, Sylvia was a wonderful daughter, sister, mother, aunt, great-aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother, cousin, friend and neighbor. She lived her life full of taking chances, praising God, living her life to the fullest and leaving everyone with treasured memories.
Sylvia was born September 11, 1935 in San Fernando, Trinidad to the late Alma Durity (nee Bledman) and Fitzroy Durity. Sylvia attended school and loved to tell stories of attending St Gabriel’s Girls RC School. Also, she loved to tell stories of her days growing up in Trinidad
In the 60’s, Sylvia migrated to Virginia with the dreams of broadening her education and providing opportunities for her four young sons. A single mother, she worked several jobs to provide the best for her family. Her passion was in health care. She worked as a Health Care Provider at nursing homes, including Marseilles Nursing Home in Washington, D.C. She found and followed her passion in private home healthcare.
Sylvia was a very active supporter to the Caribbean community. She would take time to provide assistance to the newly arriving families from Trinidad. She would take her non-Caribbean friends to the Caribbean festivals introducing them to the culture, music and food. Sylvia was proud to say that she believed and was a child of God. She attended and supported two churches: Long Life with Jesus Spiritual Baptist Church and Sacred Heart with Jesus Spiritual Baptist Church in the DC Metro area. She enjoyed the comradery of her church family on bus trips to their sister churches from Maryland to New York and New Jersey and when the sister churches were visiting. She was always collecting gently used clothing, monetary donations or food items to assist in the church’s Saturday’s Caribbean style cooking, which provided free meals and clothing to the disadvantaged and homeless people in the community.
Sylvia was a dedicated mother first and foremost. Her love was her family, a “Mama Bear”. In her retirement years, Sylvia enjoyed spending time with her grand and great grandchildren. She would use any excuse including “dew falling” to have them stay with her when they were young. She would proudly let you know that all five of her children are college grads. Her dreams of coming to America were accomplished. Sylvia was overjoyed when she joined the senior program at the Charles Houston Rec Center. Her days were filled with excitement participating in the holiday events, field trips, fitness and walking programs.
Sylvia was preceded in death by her parents Alma and Fitzroy Durity, her brother Edmond Durity, sister Joyce Thompson (nee Durity), son Allan Durity, niece Natalie Durity and brother-in-law Oswald Thompson. She is survived by her brother Joseph Durity, sister Victoria Durity, sons Stephen “Steve” Durity, Roger Durity and Terrance “Terry” Durity, daughter Abena Durity, nieces Beverly Ann Thoma, Nicole Durity and Kathleen Durity, nephews Wendell Thompson and Kerwin Durity, grandchildren Ayanna Durity, Kwadjo Durity, Zacariah “Zack” Durity Black and Nathanael “Nate” Durity Paulina, great-granddaughter Annaya Andrews; great-nieces and great nephews, the La Caille family, a host of longtime close friends and her beloved church family.
A celebration of Sylvia’s life will be held at Cunningham Turch Funeral Home, 811 Cameron St, Alexandria, VA 22314 on Thursday, February 18th 2021. Visitation will be held at 10 am and Celebration of Life Service will begin at 11 am. Burial will take place at Bethel Cemetery at 2 pm.
A special thanks to the Sam Houston Rec Senior program staff and the Senior Services of Alexandria staff for the assistance in enrollment benefits and programs they provided to Sylvia.
The family will like to thank everyone for their kind and comforting prayers and well wishes.
Due to current COVID-19 pandemic there will not be a repast after the funeral.
02/18/2021
10:00am - 11:00am
You will be missed! Rest in Heaven Ms.Sylvia.
My deepest condolences and prayers to you and your family. May God continue console you in the comfort of his heavenly spirit.
Aunty Silvia may you rest in eternal peace, say hi to the my grandmother and uncle.. I know you all will have a real nice reunion..my heart goes out to Steve Roger and the grands God will find a way to comfort you all..
To the Durity Family,Seek Comfort in the Lord
“Come to Me,all who labor and are burdened,and I will give you rest “
Matthew11:28
Condolences to Steve,Abena and the rest of the family.Thank you Lord for sharing this beautiful Angel with us. May Sylvia Rest in The Lord’s Eternal Peace.
Amen.
Our deepest condolences, prayers and love are with you all.
Our heartfelt condolences on the passing of Ms. Sylvia. Keeping the During clan in our thoughts and prayers 🙏🏾🙏🏾
Stephen:
So sorry to hear about your mom.
My deepest condolences to you and your family. Keeping you all in prayers🙏🏽
I have many fun, memorable moments that I cherish and hold dearly. She has been and will always be my favorite Aunt.
I miss her teasing ways from young and her words of wisdom as we progressed through time.
She always had a big, warm heart towards everyone.
Love and miss you, may you rest in eternal peace Aunty Slyvia
Remembering Mother Sylvia’s wonderful and gentle soul will forever remain in my heart may she rest in peace and live on within the memories of her loved ones
Abena and family, Sam and I are so sorry for your loss! We are holding you in our hearts!
Roger,
I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your mom. You and your family will definately be in my prayers. Let me know if you need anything.
Steve,
Our sincere condolences too you and your family on the passing of your beloved mother Silvia. Nelson and I pray that you and your siblings will find strength and comfort in God almighty. Praying for you and the family.
May all of you be comforted in the knowledge that she lived a full and satisfying life. .
Blessings and love to you all.
From Jacqueline, George and Arnold Panda
Stephen:
My sincere condolences to you and your family. May your Mother Rest In Peace!
My dear friend I’m going to miss you terribly.
We all loved you..but God loved you best.
Rest dear friend until we meet again.
To the famiy:
You are great and you all showed great love and support toward your mom. God bless you all
My dear dear friend.
I m going to miss you terribly.
You were so kind and a great listener. You always had a kind and supportive way of making one feel good after talking with you.
God needed another angel and he chose one of the best.
Rest dear sister….until we meet again.
God bless you and your lovely family.
Steve,
To the family, please accept our sincere condolences on the loss of your mom Sylvia. May you and your siblings find the strength and comfort to move forward in the days ahead.
My sincere condolences to Abena, her sons and the entire family of our dear Mother Silvia. Mother Silvia was always and kind and gentle woman and indeed a woman of faith, She labored and cared for here children and insured their education and well being. I am blessed to know that I can be counted among the people who can say that I new her and I will indeed cherish the memory of her for years to come. May the Angel now guide her in her way home and may the Ancestors greet her warmly and she takes her place amongst the ranks. Until we shall meet again on that great Day, fly high dear sister, fly high!!!!!
Our hearts are saddened by the sudden loss of your mom. On behalf of the staff and participants of the Senior Center @ Charles Houston we offer heartfelt condolences and prayers. May the sweet memories of your mom provide you with comfort now and in the days ahead.
Heartfelt condolences to the family. Your mom will be missed, may her soul rest in paradise.
To the family., we feel the pain in your loss of Mama Sylvia. Please accept our deepest and sincere condolences. We will always be here when you need us.
Sincerely,
The Warers’
We’re sorry for the sudden loss of your mom. Steve we pray that you and your siblings will find strength and comfort in God. May Auntie Sylvie’s soul rest in peace.
So sorry to hear about the loss of your Mother, Roger. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Roger,
I am so sorry to hear about the passing of your mother. You and your family are in my thoughts and my prayers. If you need anything, please let me know.
Wanda & Family
I’m deeply sorry for your loss. Your family is in my thoughts and prayers during this time.