Simpson, Janice Carole (nee Simpson)
It is with deep sadness that we announce Janice Carole Simpson passed away unexpectedly at age 60. She lived life to the fullest until the last few moments when her heart stopped. Jan will be dearly missed by her beloved spouse Adrian Horwood, parents Don and Marion Simpson (she was their eldest daughter), siblings Dave, Chris and Craig and their families.
Jan developed a communications, organizational and change management consulting practice, Redoaks Management Consulting Inc. It was founded on her strong consulting background from her work with Intersect International Ltd., Oliver Wyman, Mercer Delta Consulting, Cosult International and Salasan Associates. She was Director of Communication Strategy and Organizational Effectiveness at Nortel. She co-authored several books, including Mastering Customer Value Management: The Art and Science of Creating Competitive Advantage.
She earned a PhD in English Literature from the University of Toronto and a MA English Literature and BA English/French from Western University. Early on, she taught literature, communication and public-speaking courses at the University of Toronto and Western University.
She was the family organizer, a vital assistant for her mother as she often schooled her younger siblings on a variety of school subjects she had already mastered. She created theatrical productions and assigned roles for each family member to carry out in basement performances for friends and relatives. She discovered early that reading allowed her to travel places that her youth would not yet let her go. As a University student she excelled in languages and literature and she was able to combine these two subjects while studying in Europe in her twenties. Her love of literature became her emphasis at school culminating in her doctorate.
Jan’s professional expertise was the ability to synthesize complexity and communications challenges into precise, simple and plain language. She asked the right questions, made unexpected connections and produced nuanced, clearly reasoned strategy. She was quietly confident, not afraid to challenge convention and stand up for her ideas. Her skills were sought by large multi-national corporations, global non-profits and entrepreneurs. The elegance she found in a well-designed sentence came from her commitment to plan, to prepare and to always have purpose.
Her life passions reflected these attributes and anyone who travelled with her can attest that a Jan planned trip ensured thorough knowledge of the local customs and lore, the local food and music scene and the best places to stay all over the globe. Her preparations at home, with the able support of Adrian, to support large gatherings of business colleagues, friends or family were legendary.
One of her purposes was to keep us connected. She was a guide to all of us who needed the nurturing she could provide, drawing on her understanding of great literature, music, theatre and the world. She shared all these passions with siblings, nieces, nephews and friends. She was curious about the world and loved to learn. She enjoyed choral music and her years in major choirs in both London and Hamilton. Most of all, she loved her time with Adrian at Redoaks, the home they built together. They shared the things they loved, from gardening to hiking, from cooking to travelling the world together. They were partners in a wonderful life together.
There will be a future event at Redoaks for friends and family when the pandemic situation allows social gathering.
If people wish to donate in memory, Jan suggested considering Western University’s A. Dorothy Turville Undergraduate Language Travelling Fellowships. This fund supported Jan in her studies in France and added to her love of French and international travel. www.westernconnect.ca/turville
We will all miss her dearly.
A tree will be planted in memory of Janice in the Dods & McNair Memorial Forest at the Island Lake Conservation Area, Orangeville. The annual dedication service will be held on Sunday, September 13, 2020 at 2:30 p.m. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.dodsandmcnair.com
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Janice Simpson Tuesday May 19th 2020..
Death notice for the town of: Orangeville, Province: Ontario
I was shocked and very sad to hear of Jan’s sudden death. My deepest sympathies to Adrian and Jan’s family. Jan hired me for a communications role at Nortel—interviewing me at the Four Seasons Yorkville, which I thought was perfect—and I learned so much from her. She was incredibly smart, a stellar communicator, and always made me feel I was a valued member of the team, even as she daily helped me improve my craft. Jan may just be the best boss I’ve ever had, and it’s thanks to her that I was able to make a successful transition to the private sector. She worked hard —and had a rich and varied life away from work. Travel, house building, singing, entertaining. I have happy memories of quiet dinners overlooking the gardens of their beautiful country retreat, and of great parties she and Adrian hosted. Jan created beauty, community and meaning in everything she did. The world is poorer without her.