The night of her 97th birthday, Vita Simpson dreamt of writing her guest list for her 100th birthday party. That dream has now come true, as her family and friends gathered virtually on March 19 to celebrate her century of life.
Vita means “life” in Latin, and Simpson has certainly lived up to her name. In her 10 decades, she’s been a model, a single mother, part of the Denmark Underground, a dedicated wife, and a beloved great great grandmother.
Last year, award-winning journalist Arthur Lightbourn wrote the book Our Vita about the “old Viking,” as she likes to call herself. In honour of Simpson’s birthday, the Sechelt Public Library curated a display featuring the book, which is available to borrow. Lightbourn, in his 80s himself, attended.
Simpson’s daughter Helen Angus said the book was the culmination of a desperate effort on her part to get her mother’s story down on the page, even though Simpson was a reluctant subject.
Vita Xenia (later changed to Zenia) Jensen was born in 1921 on the island of Fye in Denmark. Her first love was Copenhagen, where she eventually struck out on her own. By 17 years old, she became a certified beautician, and then a model.
When Germany invaded Denmark on April 9, 1940, Vita joined the Danish Underground within hours. She converted her apartment into a safe house for those fleeing the Gestapo.
She became pregnant during her first engagement, and decided to raise the child on her own when her fiancé was not ready to become a parent. Several years later, love walked in. Her daughter describes her parents meeting as love at first sight.
Vita first set eyes on New Zealander Major Derek Simpson when she was persuaded by friends to join them for dinner. After a long-distance romance, the two wed. Shortly after, her husband, an ophthalmologist, accepted a job in Vancouver and the family of three arrived in Canada with $100 cash. Together the couple raised four children.
With Vita’s eye for decorating, the Simpsons bought and sold more than 28 homes. Then, they spent four years living on the sea in their boat – despite Vita’s seasickness.
“She got seasick as soon as they left the dock, she was turning green,” her daughter Angus said.
“But she loves the captain, and she would follow him anywhere. She would never deny the love of her life, his dream...And he didn’t deny her.”
Derek would give Vita whatever she wanted on board. “Persian carpets, crystal glasses – you name it,” said Angus.
Most of those luxuries didn’t make it through the couple’s first crossing of the Atlantic. By the time they arrived in Portugal, their sails were in shreds, their motor wasn’t working. The freezer had met its end, and the turkey inside needed to be cooked.
So Vita made a feast for the 40 people at the dock who helped them tie up. Even at the end of an ocean-crossing journey, Simpson was ever the hostess.
In 1982, the Simpsons returned to life on land. After 45 years of marriage, Derek died in 1993. Vita moved to Sechelt in 2004, where her daughter lives. The rest of her living children followed suit, and still live close by.
It’s been a memorable life, if not without its hardship. Simpson has survived cancer, three strokes, three heart attacks and a seven-month stint in hospital when she battled seven viruses at the same time, Angus said. After a stroke last year, her doctor said she had a week to live. When Simpson was 97, she told her biographer that she couldn’t believe she’s still alive.
Simpson has always been determined not to lose her mobility, her daughter said, and once the pandemic started, began her campaign to trick Angus into outings. Angus cares for her mother every day, and the mother-daughter duo have their daily ritual of a glass of white port.
“It just brings some joy and some depth to her life. There’s not a lot when you’re 100, you know, but sitting and being able to have something that tastes so good and put a smile on your face,” Angus said. “She can have whatever she wants. She’s 100 years old. And she’s not going anywhere, she’s not driving, so what the heck?”
If there is a secret to Simpson’s long life, her daughter said it’s how she never held on to the negative and her passion for everything she did. It may have also come down to characteristic determination.
“She didn’t struggle into 100, she blossomed into it. And it’s been a joy to watch. It’s a joy to be her daughter. It’s a joy to be part of this journey,” Angus said.
As Simpson got ready to welcome her guests on March 19, she made sure her makeup was just right. She waited for her party to begin with a few socially-distanced in-person guests and many more virtually, including her 105-year-old best friend.
After all the celebrations were said and done, Angus said her mother called her 100th birthday “the best day of her life.”
