SEDGWICK – Mary R. (Rapacki) Simmons, 83, wife of the late Edward R. “Ted” Simmons, passed away Wednesday, March 14, 2012, at JFK Memorial Hospital, West Palm Beach, Fla. “Marion,” to all who knew her, was born Aug. 4, 1928, in Suffield, Conn., daughter of the late Anastasy and Sabina Rapacki.
She spent her youth on the family farm. After graduating from high school, she worked as a secretary for several different companies, including Connecticut General and briefly for Hamilton Standard, Windsor Locks, Conn., where she met her future husband. Marion and Ted were married in 1952 and were together until Ted’s passing in 2004. Marion spent most of her adult years in Simsbury, Conn., where she raised her five children and, arguably, helped raise anywhere from 10 to 40 more. As her children drifted off into lives of their own, she found time to take in children, one at a time, from infancy until they were old enough to go to daycare and she doted on them as if they were her own. Upon Ted’s retirement, they relocated to the coast of Maine, to Sedgwick, the town that Ted grew up in and where they always intended to retire. Once there, she became involved in the local “Thursday Club,” a volunteer charitable and social organization of which Marion’s mother-in-law, Martha Currier Simmons, was a founding member. She also participated for many years in a local walking group, as well as taking time to can and preserve the harvest from Ted’s backyard garden. For many years, she spent several weeks each winter visiting her sister, Terry, in West Palm Beach, Fla. Terry would then return the favor and spend the summer up in Sedgwick. Marion was trying to avoid some of the cold weather and cabin fever, Terry was trying to avoid hurricane season! Whether in Simsbury, Conn., or Sedgwick, Marion’s house was always open and welcoming to visitors, both family and friends. She will be dearly missed.
Marion is survived by her five children, Keith Simmons and wife, Nancy, of Annandale, Va., Kerry Simmons and wife, Kelli, of Southbury, Conn., Kevin Simmons and wife, Debbie, of Southington, Conn., Sheryl Sponaugle and husband, John, of Corinth, Texas, and John Simmons and wife, Kimberly, of Enfield, Conn.; five beloved grandchildren, Nick Sponaugle and wife, Erin, Lauren, Ryan, Eric and Daniel Simmons; many nieces and nephews. In addition, she is survived by her brother, Henry Rapacki of Suffield, Conn.; sister, Theresa “Terry” Rapacki of West Palm Beach, Fla.; and sister-in-law, Mary Simmons Rollins and her husband, Norman, of Ithaca, N.Y.
Calling hours will be held 4-6 p.m. Friday, March 23, at Jordan-Fernald, 141 South St., Blue Hill. A funeral service will be held 1 p.m. Saturday, March 24, at Sargentville Chapel with the Rev. Granville Henthorne officiating. Interment will be at Forest Home Cemetery, Sargentville. Condolences may be expressed at
www.jordanfernald.com.