Violet died peacefully on Monday, November 5, 2012 at Sunrise Assisted Living, Burlington, at the age of 91. She was the beloved wife of her late husband John for 65 years, mother of Jon, and Jennifer (King), and Janice (Thomson, deceased), and grandmother of Rachel, Heather, and Miki. Violet Daisy Medway was born and raised in London, England. After the Second World War, in which she served with the Home Guard manning a stirrup pump, she emigrated to Canada where she married John Simkins in Hamilton. Settling first in Montreal, later in Oakville, she and John raised three children, Janice, Jon, and Jennifer. Vi and John were enthusiastic gardeners, serving in numerous positions with various horticultural organizations and, after John had retired, traveling the world visiting and speaking at numerous garden clubs and organizations. Vi was a skilled and enthusiastic sewer, making clothes and accessories for children and grandchildren. She also designed and produced beautiful bed quilts, many raffled off to benefit Oakville Trafalger Memorial Hospital, where she served a a volunteer for over 40 years. Visitation will be held at the Kopriva Taylor Community Funeral Home, 64 Lakeshore Road West (one block east of Kerr, 905-844-2600), Oakville from 2-4 and 7-9 pm on Thursday. Funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, November 9, 2012 at St. Jude's Anglican Church, 160 William Street, Oakville.