Obituary of Anna Elizabeth Simoni

Anna Elizabeth Simoni (nee Allwein) of Hallowell, Maine died Sunday, January 31, 2010 in Augusta, Maine at the age of 87. Born in Saxton, Pennsylvania on December 23, 1922 to Elmer Aloysius Allwein and Naomi Graffious Allwein, Anna graduated from Geneva College in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania with an emphasis on human medicine. She devoted her life to her family, church, and community. A life-long volunteer, Anna made notable contributions of time and talent to many Flint, Michigan area organizations including Holy Family Catholic Church, St. Joseph’s Hospital, Easter Seals, the American Red Cross, and Habitat for Humanity. She was an avid learner, studying literature, horticulture, anthropology, and archaeology. A patron of the arts, Anna recounted playing in her high school band with Henry Mancini and creating a local “Celebrities and Coffee” lecture-concert series that featured Erma Bombeck, Anna Chennault, and Maria von Trapp. She was inspired by the natural beauty of the world and the diverse cultural accomplishments of its peoples, heightened through her extensive travel in the United States, Europe, and China. Anna and Lewis Eugene Simoni (1921-1994) had seven beautiful children together: Christopher Simoni married to Julia Wentz; Kathleen Mack married to Russell T. Mack; Mark Simoni married to Cheryl Simoni; Mary Simoni Dowd married to Kevin Dowd; Amy Simoni; Martha Clarke married to Duncan Clarke; and Elizabeth Simoni. Twelve grandchildren filled her life with joy: Beth Simoni Dougherty and her husband Steve Dougherty; Vanessa Anne Simoni Happel and her husband Mike Happel; Anthony Simoni; Benjamin Simoni and his wife Jen Mazalewski Simoni; Leah Simoni; J.B. Mack and his wife Laura Mack; Emily Mack; Shannon Dowd; Sarah Dowd; Max Thumma; Ralph Birgfeld; and Kasper Birgfeld. She was blessed with eight great-grandchildren: Christopher Dougherty, Emily Dougherty, Ethan Dougherty, Stefanie Anne Marvin, Madeline Anne Happel, Ella Mack, Ruby Mack, and Antonio Mack. She is survived by her sister, Margaret Gorin and her brother-in-law Everett Gorin and their two children, Marsha and Joseph Gorin. Anna strove to impart her knowledge and values to her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren throughout her life. She lived by example, reading to her family, taking joy in their daily lives, and praying daily for their health and well being. A funeral Mass commemorating her life will be held on Wednesday, June 23, 2010 at 11:00 AM at Holy Family Church in Grand Blanc, Michigan. Memorial donations in her honor may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International (JDRF) or the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.