Thousand Oaks
Marilyn Jean Simondet of Thousand Oaks passed away on March 3rd at the age of 89. Born January 22, 1930 in Amsterdam, New York, Marilyn entered the convent at age 18. There she received her college education and earned a degree in teaching. She taught Kindergarten in Utica and East Syracuse New York from 1950 to 1955. She loved children and felt a higher calling to bring more Catholics into the world so she left the convent and was released from her perpetual religious vows on June 28, 1955.
A teaching job brought her to California where she met her husband Robert, at a church dance and they married three months later in 1958. The Aerospace industry brought them to Thousand Oaks in 1961 where they purchased property and built the house where she lived until death.
She continued to teach and went on to work for SKF Ball Bearing Company where she retired from. Retirement gave her the luxury of serving God by fostering Down syndrome and drug addicted babies through Catholic Charities. These endeavors led her to Ukraine for several weeks so she could hold the babies in orphanages. She also loved animals and passed on animal compassion of all kinds to her children. She fostered many dogs in need. She supported Westie Rescue of Orange County & Beyond through hosting fundraisers at her home.
She loved working in her yard, building small uneven fences and decorating many of her numerous “she-sheds”. She loved her rose garden and when spring was over she planted plastic flowers. She had an infectious laugh, an incredible sense of humor and wisdom and her strong faith in God was unwavering. She was rich in advice-giving and generous in her donations. She loved her Hersey Bars with Almonds, and often treated people with them. She was open to the faiths of others and welcomed theological discussions. She even took Jewish classes so she could become a better Catholic. Her children pranked her with a Dashboard Jesus and selected a walk up song by AC/DC’s Hell’s Bells. She laughed so hard that we couldn’t hear the laugh. She always said that his dash moves were just not quite right. She was an authority on “what Jesus would do”. She looked forward to meeting her creator and reuniting with those that left before her.
Marilyn was preceded in death by her husband, Robert, son Mark and daughter, Theresa. She is survived by daughters, Kathryn Taylor, Jeannie Simondet, Karen Simondet and sons Michael and Andrew.
A mass service will be held March 15th at 10:30 am at Saint Paschal Baylon Church. Burial and reception will follow at Pierce Brothers in Westlake Village.
In lieu of flowers, donation can be made to the Ronald McDonald House. www.rmhc.org
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18