Dr. Jennifer Sibilla Maria Oates, 50 of Metchosin, B.C., passed away on August 8, 2023. Born May 26th, 1973, the beloved first child of John and Sibilla Oates, of Cayuga, Ont. She is the devoted and cherished mother of Connor and Calla Simmons. Deeply thoughtful, creative, funny, talented, inspiring, warm, and loving eldest sister to Sean (Monica Czagan), Byron (Jenn Lau), Christopher (Sarah Driessens), Christine (Karl Acelin), Michael and Theresa (Alec Maher). Adventure-toting and dear auntie to Remi and Bodhi Oates, Erin and Ãine Driessens-Oates, Lyrik, Ceres and Reden Acelin, and Mila Maher. Adored niece of Sue and Rick Booth, Luc and Janice Jacobs, David Jacobs, Elizabeth and Rod Turner, Sheilagh and Larry Moerschfelder, and Ken and Trudy Oates. Jennifer will be forever remembered by many first and second cousins across Canada. She is survived by her former spouse, Chris Simmons.
Jennifer graduated in 2003 from the University of British Columbia as a doctor of medicine and completed her residency at London Health Sciences, fulfilling the requirements for the specialty of psychiatry in 2009. She has been with Island Health on Vancouver Island since that time, specializing in geriatric psychiatry with skill, dedication and compassion. The sudden loss of our Jennifer leaves us broken-hearted and facing an unfathomable void.