Sylvia N. Turner

Sylvia N. Turner
1932-2023

Sylvia N. Turner, “Dessert Queen Of Venice”, passed of natural causes at the age of 91 on December 11, 2023. Born in Leicester, England on July 31, 1932 she moved to the US in 1964. Wife of Dr. Michael D. Turner for 45 years, she is survived by her five children Jane, Sarah, William, Jennifer and Elizabeth, thirteen grandchildren and one great grandson.

She studied nursing in England. Then became a midwife and a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in the US. A passionate cook and artist. She was known for her chocolate eclairs, Christmas pudding, trifle, and salmon soufflé. 

She sailed with the Bitter Ends and Venice Youth Boating and was named “Social Director for life”. She delivered “Meals on Wheels” to people for over 30 years, stopping to talk and give comfort to those who lived alone. She played Tennis with The Courtside Tennis Group. She expressed her love of art and theater by volunteering at “The Venice Art Center” and helping with the costume design at “The Venice Theater”. She passed on her nursing skills by working with “The Sarasota Medical Auxiliary”.

Sylvia Turner will be remembered most for her love of life, the way she made people feel when she entered a room like a shining light spreading this joy that she held inside.

Sylvia Turner will be remembered most for her love of life, the way she made people feel when she entered a room like a shining light spreading this joy that she held inside. Her laughter and British wit carrying the day. Sometimes she’d sing you a tune, dance a little jig or just offer you a hand. It didn’t matter that you were a stranger if you were in need of a smile, a bowl of soup or a hug you could always count on her to give it to you. She will be remembered for her honesty, not always what you wanted to hear, her warmth, when you needed a shoulder to cry on. She loved painting at Wild acres, knitting, gardening, cooking, singing and dancing. Her spirit touched all of us in some way.

She will be greatly missed. The stories we have to tell her great grand children about this brilliant, wonderful woman we all called Sylvia, are endless.

Please do not send flowers, donate to The Humane Society in her honor. Her Celebration of Life will take place at her home on January 13th at 2pm.