Sylvia was born at 'East View', a bungalow in the village of Vange in Essex. At home there was Ivy, our Mum and Ernest Head, our Dad. I was seven and our sister Brenda was three. Brenda had been very ill with whooping cough and pneumonia together and we almost lost her. Being 'big sister', I was the one to 'be Mum' and to help to look after Sylvia as she grew. We have both always had memories of those times, even to these last years.

We had a piano and all three had piano lessons but it was Sylvia who showed great musical talent. All three of us sang in All Saints' Parish Church choir. I played the small peddle organ there but Sylvia set her sights on an advanced music course.

After leaving school, she taught for a time in a private school in Billericay but eventually went to a college in Southend-on-Sea, on a music course. It was there that she met Keith Finnemore, who was to be her first husband. They were married in 1956. While Keith went on to theological college, Sylvia went to the Royal Academy of Music in London where she graduated in 1960/61.

Sylvia and Keith lived in several parishes and their family grew. Jeremy, Caroline, then Tina and lastly Edward were born. Sylvia was a wonderful mother and home-maker. Times spent with them were always a joy. While the family were living in Foxearth, however, the marriage broke down which meant the loss of the Rectory, their home. Sylvia, always resourceful, moved and made home for herself and the children in Sudbury, later moving to Colchester. She supported the family by her piano teaching, privately and in schools. 

In the early 1980s she was teaching at The Royal Hospital School, Holbrook, Suffolk. Frank Davies was Head of the Music Department at the school. Sylvia had been working there for several years when a horrific road accident led to the death of Frank's beloved wife, Mary. Frank himself was severely injured. Helped by his sons and daughters and by the staff from the school, including Sylvia, Frank gradually recovered. After many visits by Sylvia to the hospital, she and Frank became firm friends and later, in 1985, they were married. They had twenty four years of great happiness together. 

They found a lovely house in Rushmere St. Andrew. Gardening together; following their music interests in recitals; accompanying the Orwell Singers and the Peninsula Singers - both Suffolk choirs - and also travelling the world together; they were extremely happy. Over the next years, Sylvia's daughters, Caroline and Tina, were married with children and were settled in the Colchester area. Her son Jeremy also lived in Colchester and Edward was settled in Suffolk. They all, and also Frank's family, were always welcome at the house in Rushmere. Another happy, welcoming home atmosphere that Sylvia created for them and all of us whenever we visited.

After Frank died in 2011, Sylvia stayed in Rushmere. As our sister, Brenda, became very ill, Sylvia was a thoughtful, regular visitor driving frequently to Colchester until Brenda died in January 2013. After much thought, in September of that year, Sylvia moved back to Colchester where she was closer to her own family and to her brother-in-law, Charles. Although her memory was beginning to fail and Alzheimer's was diagnosed, yet, for the next two years, living near to her family and also having a long-time friend as a close neighbour, having regular visits from me and my family from Wales and also attending choral concerts and many other outings in the area with Charles, these were relatively happy years. 

When, due to increasing problems with Alzheimer's, Sylvia had to go in to Woodland View, a Barchester Care Home, arranged for her by her daughters Caroline and Tina, she was, at times anxious and puzzled. She eventually settled and had four years of excellent care there. 

In her first year there, she played the piano, with no written music for their Christmas Carol Concert. She continued for a long time to enjoy playing the piano occasionally. The many activities provided for the residents at Woodland View and also Sylvia's own warm, friendly nature made the years there relatively happy ones. She was loved by staff and other residents. Caroline and Tina are to be congratulated for having chosen this exceptionally good care home for their mother.

Sylvia's life was one of giving joy and immense pleasure to all who knew her. As a sister, daughter, wife, mother, teacher and friend she will long be remembered and very much missed. A life truly well lived.

Doris