Beloved wife of Stephen Slemon; stepmother to Allie Slemon (Andrea Eadie); grandmother to Arbor Eadie; sister to Nancy Wallace, Catherine Wallace, Laura Howcroft (Ian Howcroft); sister-in-law to Sally Thorne (Mary Adlersberg), Mark Slemon (Jennifer Day), Jane Slemon (Bob Ennenberg); aunt to Tanya, Bradley, Carly, Leah, Michael, Kathleen, Geoffrey, Douglas and Megan.
She was a gardener, bird-watcher, lover of landscapes, and champion of all living things, including her beloved dogs Hamilton, Jessie, Picos, and Bodhi, and the cats she named after movie characters played by the actor Robert DeNiro.
A popular, and enormously celebrated professor of English & Film Studies at the University of Alberta, Jo-Ann chaired her home Department during a time of intellectual reorientation, curriculum overhaul, and graduate program expansion. When the University’s Woman Studies program fell under threat of cancellation, she took on the role of Chair, and then worked to transform the program into a full, independent Department. She edited the scholarly journal English Studies in Canada, in the process reshaping its look, its content, its professional impact, and its social relevance.
Her scholarship, always feminist in approach, focused on early British modernism, and especially on women whose lives and works did not fit easily into accepted literary critical moulds. With Bridget Elliot she published a monograph on women writers and visual artists at the intersection of their art forms. Her work on the overlooked novelist and polemicist Edith Ellis, one of the founders of the Fellowship of the New Life in the 1880s, made an argument for a different way of writing the history of modernist socialism, feminism, and sexology. Virginia Woolf’s novel Mrs Dalloway accompanied her through most of her professional life, which resulted, among other achievements, in the publication of a new, scholarly edition of the novel, with Broadview Press, in 2012.
From typing out the entire text of Mrs Dalloway, word by word, for the new edition, Jo-Ann learned something about the interplay between literary imagination and memory, and wrote about it in the London Review of Books. Like Woolf, she could pelt with laughter – a skill she deployed during the Covid years by trolling the so-called Freedom Convoy protesters on Facebook and on TikTok. She was a master of dry humour, of pointed understatement, of the perfect, capturing phrase.
Jo-Ann threw herself into life, and she crafted hers beautifully. She relished social engagement. She noticed people. She listened deeply, and sought to understand. When asked, she gave wise counsel. She overflowed with ideas, and shared them generously.
One of those ideas resulted in the creation of a memoir-writing group, which included, among others, the late Margaret Ann Armour, Pat Clements, Isobel Grundy, Margaret Mackay, and Jeanne Perreault. From her writing for that group, Jo-Ann produced a book-length memoir, entitled A Life in Pieces. It will be published by Thistledown Press in August, 2024.
We thank her care providers at BC Cancer, and at the Medicine Shoppe on Fort Street in Victoria, for their years of attention to Jo-Ann. We thank the many students who have carried her spirit forward in their own spectacular academic careers. We thank her many fast and enduring friends, to whom she brought her undivided attention, her loyalty, and her genius for nuance.
Her green burial will take place at Royal Oak Burial Park in Victoria, followed by a small, informal gathering of local friends and neighbours at her home.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
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Katherine Binhammer
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Dianne Chisholm When I think of Jo-Ann’s life in pieces, I think of her U of A life, her Canmore life and her Victoria life—each stitched together by her wry, self-crafted, inscrutable character. As a colleague, she counseled (me) wisely, supervised with extraordinary, critical generosity, recovered and championed “minor” feminist modernists, and authored some of the most original and searching research I have known. As a fellow Canmoron, she took to small-town living in her cosmopolitan way—flaneuring our five shop-lined streets, braving the local book club, discovering unlikely art galleries in foothill hamlets, and cooking up exquisite menus for our well-imbibed dinner parties. And though she was a dedicated Modernist, she seemed most at home as a Victorian. In Victoria, with her beloved “boys,” she cultivated a writing life, which included a dream-study overlooking a rock garden of Garry Oaks and a not-so-distant ocean. She wrote many of her memoirs here, and thrived. In full control of her voice, at the peak of her powers, she completed her life – and leaves it to regale her readers.
Stephen, my heart goes to you, Jo-Ann’s most loving, most steadfastly caring life-partner.
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Isobel Grundy Dear Stephen and all you others who loved Jo-Ann, So many people have praised her as a mentor. I felt, again and again, how strange it was to learn so much from someone who when I first met her struck me as so young. The other Memoir Club members won’t be insulted or surprised to hear me say it was Jo-Ann’s response I cared about most. I think we all did. We’ve been privileged. My sorrow and love to those who were closer and have lost more. Isobel
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Ian MacLaren I cannot imagine what words might comfort you and yours, Stephen. Margaret and I are saddened to learn that Jo-Ann has departed. The news brought to mind three ways in which she was vital for me. First, her views and department talks importantly made feminism accessible to male colleagues. Secondly, I think all Broadus Lecturers will remember which departmental chair chaired their talks. For me, it was Jo-Ann. I recall warmly her gracious handling of that office, as with much greater duties, and, as others have written, her sterling quality of intently listening. Thirdly, a few years later and still as chair of English, Jo-Ann again shone brightly in consoling Margaret when heart attacks set me back. She knew just what to say, and she was kind to me as I convalesced my way back into the saddle. Once I was back, she asked if I planned to stay – terrific sense of humour. In retirement years, I have not known you and her, but I was moved when I read her writing when it appeared in the LRC and Globe and Mail: like Munro’s, Jo-Ann’s is observant, incisive, and ultimately good-hearted. It felt like a visit from her to read her. Love, Ian and Margaret
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Elena Del Río Dear Stephen,
Jo-Ann was part of the committee that hired me at the U of A. I remember how attracted I was to her understated but full presence. I always felt there was a monumental person there. Like someone else says here, I wish I had had the chance to know her better. My sincere condolences to you and your family.
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Janice Williamson Brilliant Jo-Ann with her wry wit and insight leaves the remarkable legacy of a life well-lived. As her beautiful obituary expresses, she was an extraordinary woman. We were in graduate school together and both moved West to become colleagues at UofA when we graduated. In the course of her long illness, her courage and determination shaped our conversations and are made manifest in her forthcoming memoir A Life In Pieces. She is gone too soon but I will treasure her words as I do her memory. My condolences to Stephen and Allie and to all who loved her.
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Chris Wiesenthak Dear Stephen,
Though Jo-Ann’s intellectual acumen demanded respect from the moment one met her, not every colleague, however talented, continues to inspire increasing admiration as a human being and writer as well as fellow academic. Jo-Ann did. I will enjoy her literary company and look forward to helping carry her spirit ahead when her astonishing accomplishment of A Life In Pieces appears later this year.
To you, and to Jo-Ann’s dearest ones, my heartfelt condolences on your loss.
Chris Wiesenthal
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Don Randall I wish I had known her better. I sensed that she was a kind of curious gem.
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sharon barbour Stephen, my heart goes out to you at the loss of your brilliant, witty, kind wife. I know there are no words, but we try anyway.
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Heather Smyth Jo-Ann was Chair during my PhD at UAlberta and modeled all the best features of a life committed to leadership and intellectual curiosity: strong, gentle, smart, kind, and welcoming of students into the academic life. My friends who took her classes and were supervised by her clearly loved and admired her deeply. Stephen, I am so sorry for your loss and wish any words could be a balm for that. Your eulogy for her here is a beautiful gift.
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Michelene Adams Jo-Ann was my tutor for a children’s literature course at York U in the early eighties and we became friends. As a foreign student from Trinidad and Tobago I grew into Toronto, the best parts of it, through her guidance. We walked and walked. She introduced me to independent films, good literature and broadened my scope in so many ways. I look forward to hearing her wise and cheeky voice when I read the memoir. I will be remembering and sending good vibrations
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Kathryn Carter I did not get a chance to know Jo-Ann well during my time at U of A but I really remember the twinkle in her eye and her readiness to find humour in all situations. That is a gift. It will remain.
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Susan Olding I came to know Jo-Ann during the last year of her life, through her wry, intelligent, and beautifully written memoir, which I was privileged to edit. Reading it, I felt I’d known her forever. Meeting her, I wished I could have known her longer. Her wit, her warmth, her strength of character, and her courage radiate from her prose as they radiated from her person. If you loved her, please read A Life in Pieces. It will keep her close.
My sincere condolences to you, Stephen, and to all in her inner circle.
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Betsy Sargent Jo-Ann was chair when I started at the U of A–it was her clear voice on the phone to me in Oregon when I got the life-changing offer to come to Edmonton. My heart goes out to you, Stephen, losing a beloved partner– knowing what’s coming doesn’t make the loss any less final.
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Nora Foster Stovel I am shocked and dismayed to learn of Jo-Ann’s death. I had no idea that she was ill.
I respected and admired her as a colleague and as a Chair of the English Department who did much to improve the lot of her colleagues.
I wish to express my sincere condolences to her family. She will be missed.
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Mike O'Driscoll As so many others do, I consider Jo-Ann to be one of the great mentors and dearest friends of my life. As our chair, expert scholar, savvy academic, leader of our ESC editorial team, and much more, she proferred sage counsel and brilliant wit that lifted the ambitions and spirits of everyone around her. I’ve missed her in these years of her retirement, and wish there had been more opportunities for face to face connections. I will think of her often and always. Stephen, we love you and we are with you in these difficult times. Please know that we are here to support you and do let us know if there is anything we can do to offer comfort in this moment of tremendous loss.
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Linda Warley Dear Stephen,
The last time I saw Jo-Ann was on Bloor Street when I was walking obliviously past you two and Jo-ann recognized me and stopped to chat. In such small moments her grace and kindness shone.
Who knew she would turn out to be a life writer! I keenly await the delivery of A Life in Pieces.I loved following her on Facebook and noting her artist’s eye for color and texture, her horoscope messages, her recent tributes to others. I was never her student but through those posts I got a wider glimpse of her and your life together.
My heart goes out to you and all who loved Jo-Ann.
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Kim Echlin I knew and loved Jo-Ann when we were in grad school together. What glorious memories I have of that turbulent, intense time of writing and teaching and going to fortune tellers and sharing hair-stylists and reinventing feminism one more time. Jo-Ann was always ready for real fun and very generous with her intellect. I have loved her recent writing in The Literary Review of Canada and will treasure her memoir.
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Garrett Epp Like many, I would not be where or who I am but for Jo-Ann. As a colleague, as Chair, she pushed me to do things I thought I could not do, and supported me throughout the doing. Her advice, like her sense of humour, was both invaluable and utterly reliable. She lives on not just in her published words but also in those spoken words and gestures that guided so many of us.
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Gareth Griffiths Dear Stephen
Our thoughts are with you at this time of great loss. Jo-Ann was a scholar of great b distinction and although we didn’t have the chance to meet her often given the great distance that separated us your love for her was palpable. A life well lived ended but not forgotten.
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Julie Rak I thought of Jo-Ann particularly during this year of being Chair, and wish I could have benefitted from her wisdom and humour as I did the job, the way I did years ago when I was so new in the profession. She was an original, and has no equal. Love to all of you, as you remember her.
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Lise Gotell Jo-Ann was a great friend and mentor. She was a dog-whisperer par excellence (I spent a weekend with her watching her patiently train the new Bodhi). I will miss her wit, her incisive reads of institutional politics, her amazing food, and most of all, those afternoons of too much wine at the Faculty Club. We shared a love of Edith Ellis. I was crying this afternoon in my office in the Department of Women’s and Gender Studies. Without her, we never would have reached such a milestone. I look forward to Life in Pieces so that we can all find some way to stay close to her. Dear Stephen, I send you my sincere condolences and love.
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Gerry Hill Stephen and family, please accept my condolences. Jo-Ann with her lovely gentle smile was always a welcoming figure during grad school years ago. I had great respect for her work and character.
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John Thorp Stephen, my friend, while this news is not unexpected, it does come with a crushing blow. I have the greatest admiration for her determination to keep on looking forward and enjoy the best of the present. What a steadfast partner you have been and that too has my admiration. The birds have gone quiet in the neighbourhood, maybe they are in reflection as well. My condolences.
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Margaret Mackey The act of listening entails both skills and arts. Jo-Ann was the best listener I knew, hearing both expressed and unexpressed details. She not only heard, but also reflected and remembered. Those of us who experienced the grace of this powerful attention benefited greatly from her creative consideration of our words and our silences. My gratitude to her for conceiving of the memoir group and inviting me to join will be life-long. Terry and I send our profound condolences to Stephen and all the rest of her family.
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Linda Woodbridge Dear Steve, I am shocked and grieved to hear the news of dear Jo-ann’s death. She was always a favorite colleague of mine, so smart and always so full of good sense. Do I detect your prose style in the beautiful obituary? You were a wonderful couple, just right for each other.
I will miss her greatly. And my heart goes out to you.
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Andy Fyon My deepest condolences. Although we never met, based on what I read, Jo-Ann clearly had “spunk”. Stephon and family, I am thinking of you and family during one of life’s challenging passages.
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Betty- Joan Beaudry A beautiful life lived, and gone too soon. I will always remember her most for her quiet wit and special smile. So thankful to have been together last fall. Paul and I send our love.
The thickness of this grief lies heavy. My thoughts are with Stephen and with the many students, colleagues, and friends who mourn Jo-Ann. My own image of Jo-Ann begins with her observational super-powers, especially her attunement to beauty in the quotidian. Rigorous yet capacious, with a critical judgment balanced by a robust curiosity, she *noticed*. Unsurprisingly for someone who co-wrote a book on modernist artists, Jo-Ann surrounded herself with stunning, quirky, gorgeous, and feminist pieces of art. From Amy Loewan’s paper weaving to “tea cup Lady”, from her framing of her own garden to the gems discovered at small town shops, Jo-Ann collected the details of her world and re-presented them to us to see them anew; I am breath-takingly grateful for what she showed me. She crafted her life with aesthetic intention, intellectual astuteness and always comic irony. While she was a formative academic mentor to me as a junior faculty member, it has been in her post-retirement and in the mountains that I was graced with her friendship. She really did provide a masterclass in dying, not just with dignity, but with LIFE. We may wish we didn’t have to be students of this hard lesson but as any good pedagogue knows — and Jo-Ann wasn’t just a good one but a great one — the most difficult lessons are also often the most meaningful. Stephen, you co-taught that hard class; what a gift you gave her, care-giving and travelling along with such attentiveness, compassion and love. The world’s ether will hold many particles of Jo-Ann’s life for years to come, especially in the infinite wonders of and on the page.