GAGE, Sylvia (Rendell)
Sylvia Gage (nee Rendell) (Oct 4, 1938 – Feb 16, 2024) passed away at the Ottawa General Hospital quickly but peacefully from aggressive Leukaemia. In her belongings she left hand written notes of love for her children (Stephen Medd, Gary Medd, Lisa Medd and James Medd) and her grandchildren (Stefanie, Carolyn, William, Eric, Ethan and Elsie). Sylvia was raised on a River Road farm in Napanee by her parents, Frederick and Ethel Rendell. She is predeceased by her siblings, Douglas, Doris, Dureen and Clifford. She is remembered and loved by her children, grandchildren and living nieces, Linda Stevens, Sue Rendell and Cheryl Townsley. A private Celebration of Life in Napanee will honour Sylvia in May. There is a story that underscores her legacy. Stephen’s twin brother Gary has lived his entire adult life with chronic schizophrenia. In the early days of his illness the cutting edge anti-psychotic medicine, Clozapine, was not covered by OHIP and was financially out of reach of families at a cost of $10,000 per year. Stephen remembers picketing in front of Queen’s Park in Toronto with his Mom and other families for full funding for this life-saving medication. The government listened and Gary received a new lease on life. It literally saved his life from debilitating psychosis or suicide. In 2004 Sylvia was honoured by the Ontario Government as described below.
“Sylvia Gage (Rendell) is a dedicated and innovative volunteer who successfully lobbied the Ontario government to fund and provide the medication Clozapine for patients with treatment resistance to schizophrenia. Invited by the Ministry of Health, she helped establish the Clinical Guidelines Working Group for Clozapine. Sylvia also initiated and, with the assistance of members of the [Bipolar] Group in the National Capital Region and Canadian Mental Health Association, Ottawa Branch, successfully obtained funding for the NAMI Family-to-Family Education Program for the Ottawa area. She served on the Board of of the Ottawa Chapter, Schizophrenic Society of Ontario, and donated her time and talent most generously. She also represented the Ottawa Chapter on other boards. Sylvia has the distinction of serving on public education, fundraising, advocacy and telephone committees in addition to facilitating the mutual support group and assisted in establishing the Ottawa Chapter’s Library.”