Jane Elizabeth Somerville-Caspari

SOMERVILLE-CASPARI, JANE ELIZABETH – aged 70, died peacefully in her home in Toronto on Tuesday April 14 after a courageous and hard-fought 24-year battle with brain cancer. Born May 9, 1949 in Strathroy, Ontario to Agnes and Cameron Somerville, Jane was the eldest daughter of four children- sister to Mary Pennell (Ernie), Neil Somerville (Jackie) and John Somerville (deceased). She was a graduate of Strathroy Collegiate Institute and completed her Master of Political Science degree from the University of Western Ontario. Survived by her loving spouse Dr. David Caspari, “favorite sons” Jordan Caspari and Julian Caspari, “daughters-in-love” Sylvia Colucci and Courtney Irwin, and “grand-kidlets” Bennett (11), Gianna (9), Georgia (5) and Collette (1). She was a facilitator of extended family gatherings that she famously called, “hootenannies”. Jane lived her passion for life each and every step of the way. She was an eternal optimist with a great sense of humor, and stalwart in her commitment to life’s adventures – traveling, dancing, singing, running marathons, and “inventing” family meals. She was a champion of literature and founded Somerville House Books where she would innovate a new world of children’s books and toys like the Bug Book and Bottle, which was on the New York Times bestseller list for many weeks in the late 1980s. Jane was honored in 1996 as Canadian Women’s Entrepreneur of the Year for her many creative endeavours. In the years before her passing, she fulfilled her lifelong dream of being an author with the publication of “My Dog Max is a Buddhist”. It was her small-town upbringing in Strathroy, Ontario that instilled a strong sense of faith and duty in Jane. This was evident in her love, generosity and commitment to community, whether supporting Lawrence Park neighborhood initiatives or welcoming a wide cast of characters to the family dinner table. Jane will be missed dearly as a loving wife, sister, mother, grandmother and fr