Silvia G. (Vens) Anstey, 54, of Londonderry, passed away peacefully at her residence with her family by her side on Sunday, July 12, 2026, after a long and courageous battle with metastatic breast cancer.

Silvia, the daughter of the late Gerry and Diane (Ebbink) Vens was born in Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada on September 20, 1971, and grew up in Ottawa, ON, Canada. She attended McGill University in Montreal where she received her bachelor’s degrees in nursing and anatomy.

Silvia is survived by her husband, Thomas David “Dave” Anstey; her daughter, Meagan Anstey of Londonderry; her son, Michael Anstey of Londonderry; her newborn grandson, Oliver Anstey; her two brothers; and her stepmother, Edith Vens of Ottawa, Ontario. She is also survived by her stepbrothers, Tom Weichert and his wife, Susan, of Ottawa, Ontario, and Andreas Weichert and his wife, Ursula Holland, of Ottawa, Ontario, as well as many sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, and nephews. Silvia was fortunate to have many dear friends who became part of her extended family. She and Dave are thankful to have moved to Londonderry, New Hampshire in 2005, where they found their “adopted” family. What began as a plan to stay in New Hampshire for three to five years became a 21-year journey, made meaningful by the love, friendship, and support of the community they came to call home.

Silvia met the love of her life, Dave, after university, while playing ultimate frisbee and they remained inseparable for the rest of her life. Together they built a loving home, raised a family, and created countless memories. Their relationship was grounded in friendship, mutual respect, and unconditional love. No matter what life brought their way, they faced it hand in hand, always putting each other and their family first. Silvia was a devoted wife, Dave's best friend, and his constant source of love, support, and strength. Their enduring bond was evident to everyone.

While raising her family, Silvia became deeply involved in her community through the Londonderry School PTA and the Mom's Club, where she formed lasting friendships and touched countless lives. Although they built a wonderful life in New Hampshire, family and friends in Canada were never far from their hearts. Silvia and Dave made the six-hour drive home regularly to visit loved ones, and many family members and friends made the trip to Londonderry in return, experiencing firsthand the warmth, kindness, and friendships Silvia cultivated wherever she went.

More than anything, Silvia loved being a mom. She counted herself lucky to stay home with Meagan and Michael through all the wonderful, chaotic years of their childhood, and she poured her whole heart into it. She had a gift for making ordinary days feel like celebrations, whether that meant taping a picture of Jaws under the toilet seat for an April Fools' surprise or transforming a birthday party into a full-blown science lab, complete with bubbling experiments and wide-eyed kids. That was Silvia: always finding a way to turn a moment into a memory.

She was, without question, the ultimate hockey mom, cheering from the stands through countless early mornings and cold rinks, never missing a chance to support Meagan and Michael as they grew up on the ice. Her devotion to the game and to the community around it led her to serve as a board member of the Friends of Londonderry High School Hockey Team, where she gave her time freely to help other families the way hers had been supported.

Outside of hockey rinks Silvia found deep contentment in life's quieter moments: losing herself in a garden, working on a craft project, or simply being outdoors. She didn't need grand gestures to feel joy. She found it in the everyday, and she made sure the people she loved felt it too.

One of the greatest gifts of Silvia's life was meeting and holding her beloved grandson, Oliver, just one day after his birth and on the day she passed away.

For the past five years, Silvia was a tireless advocate for metastatic breast cancer awareness and research. Through her work with Anstey's Army and METAvivor, Silvia along with her community helped raise more than $45,000 to support research and bring hope to others facing the disease. Her strength, determination, and commitment to helping others will be remembered as part of her lasting legacy. Thank you to all the people that supported her fundraisers over the years.

Silvia's kindness touched everyone she met. She had a unique way of making people feel welcome, heard, and truly valued. It didn't matter whether you were a lifelong friend, a family member, a server at a restaurant, or a stranger she had just met. Silvia approached every interaction with warmth, compassion, and genuine curiosity, leaving people better for having known her, even if only for a moment.

Prior to moving to Londonderry, Silvia began her career as a registered nurse at The Ottawa Hospital. Silvia's "retirement job" at Trader Joe's in Bedford, NH, brought her not only joy but also lasting friendships. After being diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer early in her tenure, she was surrounded by incredible support and kindness from her Trader Joe's family, for which she was profoundly grateful. Prior to joining Trader Joe's, Silvia worked at Business Cents in Londonderry for six years, where she formed many lasting friendships. It was the perfect role during a busy stage of family life, as the company valued work-life balance and supported her commitment to her family. Thanks to that flexibility, Silvia was able to be present for her children's sporting events, appointments, and countless important moments. She was deeply grateful for the friendships she made and the support she received during her time there.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to Silvia's care team at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, especially Dr. Erica Mayer and her team, whose expertise, compassion, and dedication meant so much throughout Silvia's journey. A special thank you to the exceptional nursing staff at Dana Farber for the kindness, empathy, and support they provided. Kristina Nardone, in particular, developed a meaningful friendship with Silvia that brought her great comfort and joy. The family would also like to thank Silvia's New Hampshire care team at Dana Farber's Londonderry location, as well as her palliative care team at Elliot Hospital, especially Dr. Linda Kornfeld and her team, for the outstanding care, compassion, and support they provided.

A celebration of Silvia’s life will take place on Sunday, September 20th at Backyard Brewery in Manchester, NH from 12-4pm. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to Metavivor at https://donate.metavivor.org/fundraiser/4574898

Phaneuf Funeral Homes and Crematorium, Manchester, is in charge of arrangements. For more information or to view an online memorial, go to www.phaneuf.net.