Obituary of Sylvia Maxine Sharpe

It is with great sadness that the family of Sylvia Maxine (Yerxa) Sharpe announce her passing. She was 86, the daughter of Albert and Violet Yerxa, born in Keswick, NB, and married in 1956 to Harold Holland Sharpe. Sylvia and Harold established their home in Keswick Ridge, where they raised their two sons, Rodney Harold Sharpe (Heather Clements) and Gary Edward Sharpe.

Sylvia will be missed by her husband, Harold; sons, Rodney and Gary; grandsons, Andrew Holland Sharpe of Calgary and Marcu (Jenaya) Sharpe; two great granddaughters, Olivia Violet Sharpe and Madeline Marguerite Sharpe of Calgary; sisters, Annis (late Elwood) Sharpe and Marie (John) MacPhee. Besides her parents, Sylvia was predeceased by an infant brother, Dellas and her brother, Daniel (Elaine) Yerxa.

As a young child, Sylvia was taught needlework by her mother Violet and grandmother Ella May Yerxa. She loved colours and handwork projects like quilts. As a young woman, Sylvia found a career as a telephone operator with NBTel at the Keswick Exchange. She then became a stay-at-home mother to raise her two sons, also caring for her grandson and several neighbourhood children. In 1984, Sylvia authored “The Madam Keswick, a Village of Two Centuries”, to commemorate the NB bicentennial year. She also served in retail stores including The Lighthouse Christian Bookstore. In 1996, with the help of her family, she launched her own business, “The Quilt Emporium”, where for over 20 years she sold her needlework along with that of many other community artisans. For several years, she organized a team and knit hundreds of socks, mittens and hats as Christmas gifts for orphans in Romania, through International Teams. In 2024, she reprinted a 40th anniversary edition of her book, as a fundraiser for siding for Keswick Baptist Church.

Sylvia was a follower of Jesus. She became a Christian at the young age of eight, having had an encounter with Christ while walking through the Colter Covered Bridge in Keswick. Her grandmother Ella was her spiritual mentor. Sylvia was an active member of Keswick Baptist Church, having taught generations of children for 37 years as a Sunday School and VBS teacher, Pioneer Girls leader, a communion steward, financial teller and alto choir member. She was an active reader, and loved music. Her impact and influence on the Keswick community will be felt for generations.

All are welcome to attend Keswick Baptist Church, Route 104, Keswick, NB on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. Visitation will be held from 12 to 1:30 pm with the Celebration of Life beginning at 2 pm. Rev. Eric MacKinnon, Rev. Charles Yerxa and Rev. Matthew Maxwell officiating. Reception will be held following the service in the Church Gymnasium. Interment will take place in Keswick Cemetery. For those who wish, remembrances may be made to Keswick Baptist Church, Effect Hope or Teen Challenge. Personal condolences may be offered through www.yorkfh.com