An intense six-week battle with an unexpected illness left Arvilla Ann Sipma (1947 – 2024) too weak to continue to fight infections and pneumonia, and she passed over into glory on June 2, with her husband, Jim Olthuis, at her side.

Brave, beautiful, and brilliant, Arvilla gave her heart fully and completely to Jim as did he to her, in a marriage of daily delight and joy. She eagerly embraced Jim’s family (Doug & Anita, granddaughters Janine, Katie, and Ariana, Chris & Heather, and grandson Jord) and extended family as her own. From an early age Arvilla loved to travel, and together with Jim was able to continue exploring the world.

She was a woman of wonderful and graceful presence, with a remarkable ability to make and maintain friendships across time and space. The eldest daughter in a large family of Sipma boys (Loren, Calvin, Rodney (Sylvia), Ron, and Del (Lauri); predeceased by Harlan, Vern, and Wayne) she tenaciously fostered family connections.

The eyes and ears of a faith in a God of love was the lodestar and fabric of her daily life. She had an abiding passion for social justice, always eager to learn more. Teaching English as a second language was her calling and she excelled particularly in welcoming new Canadian families trying to find their feet in a new country. Her beauty, graciousness, and gentle wisdom has touched the lives of many.

Visitation will be held at noon on Wednesday June 12th, 2024 at the Beaches Presbyterian Church, 65 Glen Manor Dr., Toronto, Ontario. A celebration of life will follow in the church at 1:00 pm.

For those unable to attend in person, but would like to participate virtually, please use this zoom link at 1 pm:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88204924140

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Institute for Christian Studies in Toronto of which she was an avid supporter.