It looks like you are viewing this on a mobile device. Would you like to use the mobile version? No thanks.
It looks like your device can support the full version of the site. Would you like to view that instead? No thanks.
Email to a friend Tweet This Send to Facebook Share on Google+
  Login
Gloria Helena Lyn
April 2, 1930 - September 21, 2013
Return to the Memorial Getting Started Administration Inbox  
Return to Getting Started  
Return to the Memorial Help Extend the Memorial Order a Keepsake Book  
Obituary Eulogy Guestbook Biography Photos Media Life Stories Family Tree Contribute
<div itemprop="description">Gloria Lyn was an extremely accomplished woman with a keen sense of humour who was an inspiration to her family and all who knew her. <br />Gloria Helena Chen See was born in Springfield, St. Elizabeth, Jamaica to John and Ada Chen See on the 2nd of April, 1930. Her father, called Teacher affectionately, was a central figure in that small country town owning retail and wholesale store, a bakery, a bar as well having the only vehicle, a truck, for transport. All proved highly successful despite his speaking very little English. Gloria, called Amoy by her mother; along with her sisters, Arlette, Ivy and Cela and brothers Sydney, Albert, Harry, Caswell, Jasper, and Victor; attended the local primary school and grew up focused and hard-working under their parents&rsquo; watchful eye. <br />In the 1940s Gloria was sent to Kingston to attend Miss Murray&rsquo;s school and later attended the St. Hugh&rsquo;s High School for Girls. There she proved her aptitude and won the Exhibition scholarship in 1949. <br />In 1951 she married Basil Lyn, a young chemical engineer, and together they had four children, Cathy, Ethan, Marjanne and Alethea. Her children&rsquo;s successes owe much to her constant drive and often sacrifice to ensure their education and her instillation of the concept of quality performance.. Under Gloria&rsquo;s leadership the Lyn family household at Avesbury, Wellington Drive, College Common, wherever we lived was a familiar meeting place for academic discussion and lively conversation. Gloria often mentioned that her visitors would have to accept pot luck which invariably turned out to be a superb meal.. All were most welcome and felt comfortable dropping in. <br />When Alethea was four years old Gloria entered the University of the West Indies as a mature student and won the first year prize. In 1970 she graduated with a BA (Special Honours) in English. She won a CIDA scholarship and went on to acquire her Master&rsquo;s at the University of Toronto in Canada. She was very proud of the A grade she earned from Prof Northrop Frye. On her return to Jamaica she embarked on a teaching career as a Lecturer in the Department of English at the University of the West Indies, Mona campus where she worked from 1971 until 1992 when she retired and moved to Canada. <br />After Basil&rsquo;s untimely death at age 62 and with three of her children still at university, Gloria now had to be self sufficient and was successful at that for decades right up to her passing. <br />During her tenure at U.W.I. Gloria was awarded two more scholarships: One from the British Council to the University of Hull in 1974 and a Fullbright Fellowship to the Bunting Institute in 1981. She presented at several academic conferences was the author of several published papers including: <br />&ldquo;Naipaul&rsquo;s Guerrillas: Fiction and Its Social Context&rdquo; West Indian Literature and Its Social Context <br />&quot;Once Upon a Time: Some Principles of Storytelling: In the Castle of My Skin. In Critical Issues in West Indian Literature: Selected Papers from West Indian Literature Conferences 1981-1983, 1984,1983 <br />&ldquo;Naipaul&rsquo;s Guerrillas: Fiction and Its Social Context&rdquo; West Indian Literature and Its Social Context. Ed. Mark McWatt, 1985. <br />&ldquo;Religion and Poetry: A Study of Mervyn Morris&rsquo;s &lsquo;On Holy Week&rsquo;&rdquo; Journal of West Indian Literature 1986 <br />Review, Alfred H. Mendes, Black Fauns in Jamaica Journal : Quarterly of the Institute of Jamaica May &ndash; July 198518/2: 62-63. <br />&ldquo;A Thing Called Art: V. S. Naipaul&rsquo;s The Mimic Man&rdquo; Critical Issues in West Indian Literature: Selected Papers from West Indian Literature Conferences 1981-1983, 1984 <br />After retirement Gloria continued selflessly, tirelessly and lovingly supported and cared for all her children. She made a commitment to keep herself strong and fit by joining the YMCA near Square One. Gloria was a familiar figure at the Y every morning at 6am and made some strong friendships with people who have not let her down as she became sick and who were devoted to her. <br />Gloria is survived by Cathy, Marjanne, Ethan ( daughter in law Clare, grand-daughters Kiran and Helena), Alethea ( son in law Wally, grand-daughter Caitlin), Arlette (sister), Sydney (brother), several nieces and nephews other family members and many good and loyal friends all over the world. <br />Gloria was very proud of her grandchildren and knew the treasures she had to offer them. <br />A Celebration of her Life is being held at Glen Oaks Memorial, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada on Saturday 26th October at 2:00pm. Further details to follow on donations in lieu of floral tributes. <br /> <br /></div>