Anita M. Simmons

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Anita M. Simmons, 84, of Warwick, RI passed away peacefully on March 27th, 2014.

Anita was a founding member of the St. Gregory the Great Church congregation and volunteered her time and energy to hundreds of parish projects over the past 50+ years. She was well known for her intelligence, generosity, humor, energy and tireless devotion to charitable causes, especially senior citizens, feeding the hungry and the poor.

After raising eight children she was able to finally realize her lifelong dream of attending college. While working a day job, she attended classes at night and was awarded a B.S. with distinction from the University of Rhode Island at age 65. That degree launched a new phase in her life and she began working for Westbay Community Action as a Senior Services project manager, a position she held until 2010. Until the last months of her life she continued to volunteer at the St. Vincent de Paul Soup Kitchen in West Warwick.

Anita was a passionate sports fan who loved her Boston Red Sox, Boston Bruins and New England Patriots and would remind anyone nearby to not expect polite conversation nor disturb her during a game. She eagerly anticipated spring each year anticipating the chance to get back out into her yard and garden. She was a great mother, friend and neighbor throughout her life. Anita (Mom, Gram, Grandma Mumz) will be missed greatly by all who knew and loved her

Anita leaves seven surviving children; 14 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; five nieces and nephews and a host of friends. Son Steven; her parents Viola and Edmund McCarthy; sister Viola Kindelan; and former husband Earle predeceased her. Left to cherish her life are her children and their spouses/partners: Michael, West Kingston, RI; Geoffrey (Carol), Providence, RI, Beth Simmons (Ken Imondi), Coral Springs, Florida, Nancy Simmons, Topsham, Maine, Peter Simmons (Charlotte Agell), Brunswick, Maine; Mary Simmons Motte (Mark), Cranston, RI; Jennifer Simmons Cullinane (Michael), Wakefield, RI. Her grandchildren: Tricia Imondi Layne, Jason Imondi, Matthew, Andrew, Oriana, Jon and Anna Simmons, Wesley Motte, Alison Fowler-Kelly, Liam and Sean Cullinane and Nathan, Harrison and Kathryn DeCotis; and great-grandchildren: Alexandra and Matthew Layne and Zachary Goodwin.

Anita’s life will be celebrated at a mass of the Christian Burial at St. Gregory the Great Church, 360 Cowesett Road, Warwick at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 1st. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, please honor Anita’s life with a donation to the St. Vincent de Paul West Bay District Council Soup Kitchen, c/o Henry Brousseau 181 West Street, West Warwick, RI 02893. Arrangements by Hill Funeral Home.