Josephine "Jo" Clare Wake

Jo is survived by her husband Matthew and Matt’s daughters Melanie Kirk (Kevin) and Tina Woodcock (Michael) and the grandchildren James, Gary, Tom, Ben and Bethany.

Jo led a full and exciting life. Born in Heaton Moore, England on September 14, 1938, she spent part of her youth living on a boat on the Thames River and abroad with her parents who frequently entertained family and cousins onboard. This was the beginning of Jo’s lifelong passion for entertaining and food. Jo loved animals and was passionate about breeding and showing her beloved German Shepherds in her younger years, or as she called them “Alsatians”. Jo spent two years studying abroad in France and in 1972 she married Matt who was her scuba instructor at the time. She was active in community theatre and loved performing.

Matt and Jo emigrated to Cambridge, Ontario, and in the ensuing years they travelled and thoroughly enjoyed life. Matt and Jo spent several years in North Carolina with their boat and made numerous lifelong friends, who all miss her dearly. Jo worked as a Fleet Manager in Cambridge and at Ratz-Bechtel Funeral Home (Later Westmount Funeral Home) until her retirement. She practiced and instructed Tai Chi for a number of years.

Jo was a fan of fantasy fiction and was involved in many author groups and became known as “Mother Dragon”. Her wisdom and skill with an editing pen were well known and she had her hand in editing fantasy novels from authors all around the world. News of her illness came as a shock, and well wishes poured in from all.

Throughout her life, Jo was a consummate Chef, and delighted in bringing friends together over good food and wine. When the internet made its appearance, Jo embraced it wholeheartedly, and joined numerous groups where she became a force in ensuring that internet friendships became real friendships. Over the years she would travel and meet many of these online friends around the world, and all remember her humour, her strength and her powerful personality. Jo went one step further in the online world and launched her own blog, “Jo on Food, Life and the Scent of Chocolate”, which she maintained up until September this year. She gained a faithful following, and her blogging will be sorely missed.

Jo was always an advocate for the preservation and care of domestic animals as well as wildlife and wilderness spaces. If anyone wishes to donate in Jo’s name, she would have appreciated this going to the World Wildlife Federation, or your local animal shelter.

Jo’s life was full of love and laughter. She fought her illness with the fierceness and passion she was known for. Her family and friends will miss her terribly, but she is now flying high with her beloved dragons.

Go well Mother dragon, you are loved.