Jennifer Janet BELL

1950 - 2023

JENNIFER JANET BELL Jennifer Janet Bell of Toronto, Ontario, passed away peacefully at home on November 20, 2023. She endured eight years of multiple myeloma and gall bladder cancer. With elegance and grace, she fought for every moment to be with her family and friends, who were with her until the very end. Jennifer was born in Hamilton, Ontario, on November 27, 1950, to Thomas Johnston Bell and Edna Gertrude Harshman. She was predeceased by her sister, Pamela Bell; but leaves behind Thomas Bell (TAC), Mark Bell and her devoted sister, Penny Bell. Jennifer attended St. Clements School and Bishop Strachan School in Toronto, and then Bowling Green College to study interior design. Her progress was disrupted in 1970 by the Kent State riots. During the wave of anti-war protests, Jennifer joined a bus convoy to Washington, camped out on the White House Lawn and draped herself in nothing but a US flag. She was enlivened by searching for the truth and speaking out at any cost. After finishing retailing school in Boston, and a marriage in Philadelphia to Harry Renner IV, Jennifer returned to Toronto with her first daughter, Swith. There, she established her enigmatically named design firm, The Minds Eye, and kept it thriving for 40 years. Jennifer married Michael Campbell Wills in 1979 and although they separated, shared many wonderful years and expanded their family with two more daughters, Cecily and Sydney. Jennifer was a zany, wonderful mother. She was exquisite. She loved and supported her children unconditionally. She always had time for their friends, who loved that she spoke to them authentically and got directly to the heart of an issue. There was never a truer or more loyal friend than Jennifer. She thrived on knowing people intimately, and being known. She held space for people of all walks of life who were suffering - whether from mental illness, physical pain or existential crisis. She volunteered with Temmy Latner Palliative Centre long before she anticipated needing their help, and served as a witness for people choosing Medical Assistance In Dying. Jennifer had a sacred relationship with nature: she loved her garden, plant medicine, and walking in the trees with her family. She adored the water in Georgian Bay. Her daughters will always cherish their last trip together to see the grandmother tree of the Sequoias. Her family is grateful to the team at Princess Margaret Hospital for always taking such gentle care of Jennifer. Also, to the palliative program at PMH, and especially the Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care for treating her end of life with such dignity and kindness. A huge thank you goes out to Dr. Gary Rodin - not just for his CALM program but for his friendship Jennifer's spirit lives on with her children, Swith Bell (Geordie Dalglish), Cecily Eaton (nee Wills) (James Eaton) and Sydney Berchtold (Marc Berchtold); and her grandchildren, Louisa, Marigold and George Dalglish, Olivia and Charles Eaton, and Oscar and Hugo Berchtold. Jennifer was an epically devoted grandmother, so much so that she became known to the wider community simply as 'Granny.' A Celebration of Life will be held on her birthday: Monday, November 27, 2023, at 3:00 p.m. at the Royal Conservatory of Music, 273 Bloor Street West, Toronto.