Wilson, Josephine Mary. March 1932 - January 2013. Josephine passed away peacefully at the age of 80 at Al Hogg Pavilion in White Rock, British Columbia, on Friday January 4, 2013.
Jo was born on March 10, 1932 in Worthing, Sussex, U.K. She is survived by George, her loving husband and companion of 47 years and her devoted daughter Sarah Jane, her son-in-law Tony and her young grandson, Jack.
At the age of 14 her parents, Ken and Kathleen Orrin, who were in Austria with the RAF, enrolled Jo in a boarding school in Sussex, where she studied ballet. In 1950 she joined a theatre touring company as a dancer and remained with that company until she moved to Canada in 1954. When Jo arrived in Canada she lived for many years in Toronto where she worked various jobs and sailed with the Queen City Yacht Club. Jo and George moved to Mississauga in the late 1960s and Jo started to dance again. She took some workshops and began teaching ballet at a small school in Oakville. When George took early retirement they moved to Waterloo, Ontario, and Jo was active in the two paint and wallpaper stores they opened there. They moved to White Rock, British Columbia when their grandson was born in 2007. Jo was a loving mum and kind friend to many. She had a smile and hug for everyone. Jo's family thanks the staff at Al Hogg Pavilion for the care and compassion extended to Jo during her final weeks. A memorial service will be held at All Saints' Anglican Church in Waterloo, Ontario on February 2, 2013 at 1:30 p.m. Flowers are gratefully declined but a memorial donation to the Alzheimer Society of Canada would be appreciated.