Janice Joy Wilson

Died peacefully surrounded by family and friends on June 12, 2008, after a long illness with cancer. Born January 22, 1947, and raised in Seattle, WA. She attended the University of Washington earning a degree in Fine Arts. After graduation, Jan joined the Peace Corps and served as a teacher in Uganda. She would reminisce about using a walking stick while navigating the paths of Uganda so she could pound the ground as she walked to keep away the snakes. She narrowly escaped the regime of Idi Amin and fled to Paris. While in Paris, she studied the French language and fashion design. On her return to the U.S. she resided in Washington, D.C., Cambridge and Brookline, MA. For the past 20 years, she has lived in Brookline, MA with her daughter, Maria. In 1974, Jan was a founder of a women's clothing design and retail business which later became the popular Harvard Square store, Clothware. She later developed her own successful clothing design business under the label Jan Wilson Studio and for the past 25 years, she has been well-known throughout the women's fashion industry as a creative and visionary designer of women's leisure and business clothing. Her annual studio sale was a popular social event that brought the women of Boston together. Jan's motto was "bring a friend, meet a friend, make a friend". Over the ensuing years thousands of Boston women made the trek to her 5th floor walk up studio on A Street to be dressed by Jan. It was a "Boston Happening" that grew into the Designers Circus. Jan was known for her impeccable sense of style and generous spirit. She was an avid swimmer and for years was a regular with the womens morning swim that met at 5 AM at the West End Club, in Allston, Ma. Since 2004, Jan has worked for Coldwell Banker in Coolidge Corner. For many years she has been an active member of the United Parish Church, Brookline, MA, serving in many volunteer positions including head of the annual Thanksgiving dinner. Jan will always be remembered by her many friends by the words "generous", "giving" and "gentle". She encouraged everyone in times of difficulty and ceaselessly offered her friendship, kindness and wisdom to everyone who crossed her path. Her enthusiastic and gentle spirit will live on forever in the hearts of all those who knew her. Surviving are her daughter, Maria, and her sister, Marguerite Hayes, of Washington State. A memorial service will be held at the United Parish Church, 210 Harvard St, Brookline, MA on June 21, at 2 PM. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the "Friends of Jan Fund" c/o Brookline Bank; 1340 Beacon St. Brookline, MA 02446.