D. Anne SIMMONS

1939 - 2023

Anne Simmons B.H.Sc., M.Sc., R.D.N., née Heslop, born January 20, 1939, passed suddenly at home in Victoria on Sunday, November 12, 2023 after undergoing cancer treatment earlier this year. Survived by daughter Leanne and sons Martin, Brian and Collan, proud Mother-in-Law of Anisa, Grandmother to Navan, Kiran and Kai of Stratford, ON and dear friend to many in BC, ON and QC. Born in Weston Road Hospital to James Charles Heslop and Margaret Alice Heslop (Dance). Older sister to Lorne (Louise) and Beth (Charlie). Anne's first seven years were spent on the family farm on Jane Street before moving to town in 1948; An early love of reading was fostered spending summers in the local library. She attended Weston Collegiate, where her guidance counsellor, upon hearing she wanted to be a farmer, told her, "Girls can only be nurses or teachers." She refused those options, but was interested in what dietitians were all about, and went on to attend University of Guelph's MacDonald Institute, graduating in 1961 with a Bachelor of Science and later earning a Master's in Nutrition and working as Director of Dietetics at Guelph's St. Joseph's Hospital. She married Clarence Spencer Simmons in 1967 (div. 1981), moved to Northern Ireland in 1970, came to Victoria in 1974 and happily never left. From 1974, she worked as a dietician at Royal Victoria Hospital and in the community, and later at Queen Alexandra Hospital for Sick Children from 1981 until her 2004 retirement. She lived through changing times, from becoming a Betty Crocker Canadian Cherry Pie Baking Champion in 1959, an all-Ontario Honey-Straining Champion, surviving the Troubles in Northern Ireland, and raising her three boys on her own while working full-time. Anne raised her three sons in Victoria, providing them a safe harbour from which to explore their world. She was much-adored by her boys' friends for making her giant cookies and feeding anyone who showed up for Sunday dinners. She managed to secretly be a "non-swimmer" for decades, from needing to be rescued via the vegetable chute from the water-filled basement of a Weston grocery store during 1954's Hurricane Hazel to quietly sliding into the deep end of Collan's pool when visiting him in Stratford, some 60 years later. Anne and her boys enjoyed summers in Ontario visiting Pop and family, attending countless auction sales and farmers' markets. She collected books, family heirlooms and every type of stray animal and kept busy helping others - canine, feline, fowl and felicitous strangers. As a dietitian tasked with helping children with special needs gain or maintain weight, she was happiest when everyone was thriving. Life was good with pie and bottomless coffee. Our gentle, wise, caring, thoughtful, devoted Mum will be greatly missed.
The Celebration of Anne's Life will take place this Saturday, November 18 from 2 to 4 pm at University of Victoria's University Club. In lieu of flowers, please consider honouring her life by donating to your favourite charity. Suggestions include your local SPCA or Victoria's Sandy Merriman House.