Obituary of Nancy Veronica Simmons

Nancy V. Simmons, a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and sister, passed away after a brief illness, surrounded by her loving daughters, on Wednesday evening, July 28, 2021.  She was 84 years old.  Nancy was one of three children born to Irish immigrants John and Ann Conley.  She grew up in South Boston in a home filled with both Irish traditions and values as well as pride in being new Americans. She was a graduate of Cardinal Cushing High School in Boston and was an active member of Saint Peter and Paul’s parish while she was living in South Boston.  She also spent many summers at Aunt Mamie and Uncle Will’s house in Amesbury.

Nancy met her love, Skip, through mutual friends while they were both vacationing in Falmouth. He was burning the midnight oil with school and work, so they often met for coffee and sandwiches after school and before he started work at 9 p.m. They married on May 7, 1960 and purchased their first home on Manhattan Drive in Burlington to start their family.  They soon outgrew that house and moved across town to Mallard Way, where they raised their four daughters.

Family was everything to Nancy.  She was fiercely loyal to her family and determined to create an environment filled with opportunity and love. She wanted her girls to be independent thinkers, inquisitive, resourceful, gracious, and kind. Nancy always made guests feel welcome and at home. She enjoyed having friends and family gather for cookouts in the back yard and swim in the pool.

When the girls were young Nancy sewed clothes for them including matching dresses and jackets for Easter. She made many afghans, ponchos, vests, scarves, hats and mittens for friends and family with her crocheting and knitting skills. She also tried activities such as ceramics and candle making and loved collecting craft and decorating ideas.

Cooking was a hobby and one way Nancy showed love for her family.  She once took French cooking lessons!  Nancy and Skip enjoyed cooking as a couple, trying recipes, and working to perfect their culinary creations. The library of cookbooks, recipe boxes, and notebooks filled with recipe clippings from newspapers and magazines serves as a testament to this important facet of Simmons family life. Time around the table sharing meals and conversation always remained an integral part of life on Mallard Way - Nancy and Skip cherished it. They also loved going out to eat, enjoying some favorite spots but constantly on the lookout for new restaurants to explore.  Each daughter fondly remembers getting dressed up and going out for a special dinner with just Mom and Dad to celebrate her birthday.

Nancy returned to the workforce when the girls were in middle and high school. She worked for many years at Curriculum Associates in Billerica, where she enjoyed learning new skills and meeting new people.

When the kids were gone, so were Nancy and Skip.  They traveled extensively to Ireland, Portugal, Germany, England, South America, Hawaii, Alaska and Greece, and even enjoyed a river boat cruise through Europe.  Traveling was a way to connect with family and friends, both old and new, and enjoy the food, culture and history of the world.  Pauline (Nancy’s sister and closest friend) and her husband, Horst, were often Nancy and Skip’s traveling companions.

This special couple enjoyed theater and music, attending many shows and concerts together. Nancy and Skip were regulars at the North Shore Music Theater. They delighted in attending their grandchildren’s performances and sporting events. Even during the challenges of 2020, Nancy was able to get a front row seat to a backyard Shakespeare production in Hudson, NH!

Nancy adored the men her daughters married - Ged, Bernie and Bill. She loved spending time with her “sons,” especially when sharing a glass of Irish whiskey!  Nancy thoroughly embraced the role of “Gramma” and delighted in spending time with her grandchildren.  She also enjoyed getting to know her “grandsons” Eric, John and Frank and had been looking forward to meeting David.

Nancy was a private person who taught her children the value of respecting people’s privacy and giving them the benefit of the doubt. She was accepting and welcoming of all people, kind-hearted, empathetic and quick-witted. You could count on her to tell it like it is.  Nancy was a special woman who will be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved her.

Nancy was the beloved wife of 57 years of the late Francis “Skip” Simmons. She was the loving mother of Linda Simmons & her husband Bill Menosky of Hamden, CT, Laura Jones & her husband Ged of Ashburnham, Loretta Choiniere & her husband Bernie of Hudson, NH and Loraine Simmons of Burlington. She was the proud grandmother of Kate Menosky & her husband David Tirpak, Kurt Menosky, Emma, Nicola & Peter Jones, Chantal Tamburino & her husband Eric, Rachelle Choiniere & her fiancé Frank Fitzgerald, Marielle Thompson & her husband John and Joelle Choiniere. She was the great grandmother of Makenna Menosky and Declan & Sean Fitzgerald. She was the beloved sister of Pauline Schmoock of Weymouth and the late John Conley.  She was the sister-in-law of Horst Schmoock and Mary Simmons of Arlington and the late Geraldine Conley, Richard Simmons and Thomas & Jacqueline MacDonald. Nancy will also be missed by cousins, nieces & nephews and their families, as well as friends and neighbors.

The family is grateful for the care and support Nancy received through Lahey Hospital, Beth Israel Lahey Home Health and Home Instead. In particular, Nancy looked forward to visits from her hospice nurse Ruth Clarke and aide Nanci Robinson of Beth Israel Lahey Health at Home, as well as aide Sonia from Home Instead.

Visiting hours will be held at the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., Burlington on Monday, August 2 from 6-8 p.m. Funeral from the Sullivan Funeral Home on Tuesday, August 3 at 9 a.m. and will conclude with a funeral Mass at St. Margaret Church in St. Veronica Parish, www.stveronicama.org , 111 Winn Street,  Burlington, at 10:00 am. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Nancy’s name may be made to People Helping People, PO Box 343, Burlington, MA 01803. For obituary, online guestbook, directions, and video tribute see www.sullivanfuneralhome.net.