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Jo Phenix
We are deeply saddened to announce, on Friday, October 7, 2022, Jo Phenix died peacefully at the Groves Memorial Community Hospital in Fergus Ontario with her best friend, devoted and loving husband of 33 years, Neville Worsnop at her side. She is survived by her mother Maise Phenix (Sheffield England), her sister Penny (Terry), niece Rebecca and Anna; her three stepsons Robert (Kristine), Christopher (Annie) and Martyn; grandchildren Michael (Crystal), Kayla (Keith), Mhairi and Euan; and great-grandchildren Shyaan, Trinity and Leo.
After teaching every grade from 1 to 13 in both England and Canada, Jo became well-known, internationally, as a workshop leader and keynote speaker. She taught special courses in language arts for provincial departments of education as well as for many universities. After several years with the Peel Board of Education as a teacher and consultant, in retirement Jo became a writer, consultant and speaker. She was also a Freeman of the City of London.
In recent decades, she immersed herself in theatre; writing scripts, particularly traditional English pantomimes, as well as designing and painting sets, directing, and producing. She was Co-founder, together with her husband, of the Erin Arts Foundation Inc and of the Century Theatre Guild, based at the Century Church Theatre in Hillsburgh. She recently retired as President of the Erin Arts Foundation Inc after 20 years of service and for her contributions she was awarded with the title of President Emerita.
Her dedication and love of education and theatre, her organization, concentration, inventiveness, and most of all her sense of humour, will be missed by all who knew and loved her. She was fond of joking with her theatre friends by saying “Team Effort – a lot of people doing what I say”.
Jo enjoyed and excelled at baking bread and was an incredible gardener. She also enjoyed travelling the world and golfing whenever there was time. Her best ever score was at the Polo Club in Louisville, Kentucky but she was never invited back.
The family would like to thank the staff at the Groves Memorial Community Hospital, particularly Dr. Chris Lund, Karen and Sharon of the Oncology unit for their outstandingly professional and sensitive care over the last 10 months.
To comply with Jo’s wishes there will be no funeral, but a Celebration of Life will be announced in the coming months to be held at the Century Church Theatre, Hillsburgh.
Donations may be made in Jo’s memory to: Groves Memorial Community Hospital, Fergus, or the Erin Arts Foundation Inc.
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Our Theatre doors are Open and all we need is………You
We continue to prioritize the health and well-being of our membership and our audience members and will continue to follow certain basic health and safety protocols and measures. For the time being, we will maintain our seating at 65% (approximately 90 people) and strongly recommend that audience members continue to wear a mask.
All our cast, crew and volunteers are fully vaccinated, and will be masked while in the theatre. We ask audience members who wish to meet with cast or crew members after the show that they join them outside at the Stage Door.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank you – our loyal audience members – for all the support and patience you have shown, as we continue to work through these ever-changing changing times.
The Box Office remains open in the meantime to assist you, at (519) 855-4586 from 9:00-9:00 each day.