Helen Joan Simonis

Helen J. Simonis, 91, of Defiance, passed away on Tuesday, November 12, 2024 in her home surrounded by her loving family.   
  
She was born on January 26, 1933 to the late John and Anna (Klima) Meyer in Junction, Ohio. On June 1, 1957 she married Louis A. Simonis, who survives. 
  
Helen was a former member of St. Isidore The Bend Catholic Church and Altar Rosary Society. She was a loving and caring wife, mother and grandmother, and provided childcare to many  children over the years. Helen was a proud mother of six children. She was a telephone operator at Defiance Telephone Company up until their first was born. 
  
Helen is survived by her loving husband of 67 years, Louis Simonis of Defiance, and their children, Regina (Richard) Kinzer of Piney Flats, TN, Daniel (Puspa Lohmeyer) Simonis of Bisbee, AZ,  Anna (Jose) Rivera of Valencia, Spain, Deborah (Steve) Drennan of Dunlap, IL, Nathan (Anita) Simonis of Alexandria, OH, and Jason (Wendy Risner) Simonis of Columbus, OH. She also leaves behind 10 grandchildren; Lauren (Matthew) Bigger, Ellen (Robert Schwartz) Kinzer, Andrew (Noelle) Rivera, Javier (Sofie) Rivera, Julia (Nathan) Curtis, Dr. Antony (Meredith) Gayed, Simon (Erin) Gayed, Mary Gayed, Evan Simonis and Willa Simonis, and 15 great-grandchildren; Clara Bigger, Isaac and Aaron Bigger, Charlie, Therese, Monica, Xavier and Agnes Curtis, Ava, Alexander and Antony Gayed, Isabella and Layla Gayed, Milo Rivera and Benjamin Rivera.
  
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her siblings; Leona Baker, Bernard Meyer, Charles Meyer, Ruth Miller, Mary Deisler, Grace Wilhelm, Raymond Meyer and Elizabeth Ankney.
  
Visitation will be held on Friday, November 15, 2024 from 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm at Schaffer Funeral Home in Defiance, with a Rosary Service at 7:30 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday, November 16th at St. Isidore The Bend Catholic Church, with Fr. Melwin D'Souza and Fr. Anthony Batt co-celebrating. Helen will be laid to rest at St. Stephen Catholic Cemetery,The Bend.

The family would like to give special thanks to CHP Defiance Homecare & Hospice and Visiting Angles for all their care and support. 
  
Memorials are suggested to any Catholic Church for Masses. Online condolences can be given at www.Schafferfh.com.
  

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