Inc. 1967
Owner: BVA
On Friday, Oct. 1, 2021, the Lord came down from heaven above to take home his daughter, our precious loved one, Francine A. Simms of Monessen. Francine was born on June 19, 1945, to the late Frank Thomas and Lillian Ellis Thomas. She was a graduate of Donora High School and soon after, married her husband of 56 years, Mack Simms of Monessen. Francine was 76 years old. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a sister, Toni (Clinton) Briggs; nephew, Eric (Putt Putt) Maxwell, cousins Jerry Frost and Charles (Milky) Gardner. Francine was loved so deeply by her family and friends, who will truly miss her. She greeted everyone with her infectious smile donned with red lipstick and her welcoming and loving spirit. The only one that came close to “beating God giving” was Francine. She would give you the shirt off her back. When it came to dressing up, Francine was by far one of the “cleanest” ladies near or far. Her outfits were always accessorized with a hat, high heels and a purse. And of course, the long, luscious, beautiful eyelashes. Francine really should have been the face of the Cover Girl eyelash commercials, for she was never without them. A tradition she passed on to her daughter and her granddaughters. Francine called everyone she came in contact with, “Hunni,” but she herself was more affectionately known by her grandchildren as “Nana,” and by her brother, Rock, as “Bobbie.” One of her favorite sayings was, “You know what I’m screaming.” Francine was an avid card player. She enjoyed traveling, cooking large meals for family and friends and spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. When you think of Francine, try not to think so much about how she died, for it is a door that we all must pass through at some point of time in our lives, but more so think about how she lived. For she lived to make others happy. She lived to make others feel loved. Francine leaves to cherish her memory, her husband, Mack Simms of Monessen; her children, daughter, Sherriye A. Winmon; sons, Gary R. Simms, Mack Simms Jr. and Justin Simms, all of Monessen; brothers, Daniel “Rock” (Lois) Thomas and Cecil “Popeye” (Helen) Tartt of Donora; sisters, Bernice Penn of Homestead, Deborah (Jerry) Ingram of Alexandria, Va., Valetta Moore of Ambridge, Pa., R’Wanda (Keith) Hogan of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Barbara (Ernest) Maxell of Jersey City, N.J.; four grandchildren, She’Cholle M. Winmon, Elecia Smith, Zhane’ L. Simms and She’Carriye A. Winmon; three great-grandchildren, Kyler A. Winmon, Caleb Kolbeck and Moon Kolbeck; niece, Danyel (Corey) Butler of Covington, Ga.; nephew, Daniel Ellis Thomas II of Monessen; goddaughters, Tiffany Ingram Benton and Shayla Francine (Kamal) Hodgson; longtime soulmate, Clarence “Daddy” Hicks of Davisboro, Ga.; brother, Melvin Hicks; nephews, Gregory and Marion Maxwell, Cecil and Brett Tartt and Jamal Stover; nieces, Cassandra Carson, Cynthia Huggins, Constance Hicks, Catrice Hicks-Mullins, Diana Tartt and April Penn; and a host of other family members and friends. The viewing and funeral service will take place Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, at First Baptist Church, 541 Allen Ave., Donora, PA 15033. There will be a viewing from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., immediately followed by the funeral at 1 p.m. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to HOUSE OF LAW FUNERAL HOME of Penn Hills, Pa.
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