Mary E. Simon formerly of 813 Bishop Street passed away Tuesday, May 25, 2010 in the Pines Health & Rehab Center in Olean.
Mrs. Simon was born in Louisville, Kentucky on September 3, 1918 and was a daughter to Harry and Leoma Pearl Evans Rowley. On March 6, 1942 in Louisville she married her husband, John S. Simon who survives.
Mrs. Simon's mother died when Mary was young. Mary, while growing up, took care of the home and her father & siblings and worked in Louisville. She met her husband John S. Simon, who was in the service during WWII. After their marriage and Mr. Simon's overseas wartime service, they moved to Olean.
Mrs. Simon raised four children and became involved in the Olean community. She was a den mother for the cub scouts, opened her home to a child from an inner city neighborhood through the Fresh Air program, and supported her husband's softball team. She was a member of St. Joseph's Church and will be remembered as a lady of deep faith. Mrs. Simon had a great love and appreciation for her family. She attended ceramics classes, and enjoyed reading, cooking, and baking for her family.
Surviving Mrs. Simon besides her husband of 68 years are two sons, John S. (Betty) Simon of Erie, PA, and Robert J. (Pamela) Simon of Olean; two daughters, Cynthia M. (Jeffery) Harvey of Olean, and Margie A. (J. Timothy) McCue of Concord, NC; eleven grandchildren, Patricia A. Collins, Jeanette Burleson, Peter J. Simon, James R. Simon, William J. Simon, Kathleen A. Simon, Mary Ellen Harvey, Jeffery Harvey, Kevin McCue, Alison McCue and Michael McCue; and three great grandchildren, Calvin Burleson, Simon Burleson and Shahean Simon.
Mrs. Simon was predeceased by eight brothers and sisters, Chester Rowley, Paul Rowley, Earl Rowley, William Rowley, Gordon Rowley, Dorothy Fromme, Beatrice Woodall and Margaret Howard
Friends will be received on Friday, May 28, 2010 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 P.M and 7:00 PM to 9:00 P.M. at the Letro-McIntosh-Spink Funeral Home, Inc. #646 E. State Street, Olean. The Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 29, 2010 beginning with a prayer service in the funeral home at 9:30 A.M. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Joseph's Church at 10:00A.M. The Rev. Joseph G. Akiki, Pastor, will celebrate. Burial will be in St. Bonaventure Cemetery, Allegany, New York.
Memorials may be made to St. Joseph Church, 331 North 4th Street, Olean, New York 14760 or to the Friends of the Pines in Olean 2245 West State Street, Olean, New York 14760.