Edwina Rose DeSimone
August 7, 1939 — June 13, 2018
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Mass of Christian Burial
Edwina Rose DeSimone
Edwina Rose DeSimone (known as Rose to her friends) passed away on Wednesday, June 13, 2018 at the age of 78. Born in Medford, MA on August 7, 1939, she was daughter of Edward and Helena Bernat.
Edwina was raised in Littleton and North Reading, MA, and was a graduate of Billerica High School; after graduation, she studied at Lowell Tech. Like many of her generation, Edwina married and started a family in her early twenties. While raising her family, she was a volunteer with Campfire Girls and was very involved with their yearly candy sales. A very accomplished baker, she ran a successful in-home business. Everyone loved her delicious cakes, pies, cookies and other goodies.
An early feminist and proponent of Equal Rights for women, she returned to the workforce, first part time, then third shift and Analog Devices. She worked in several different departments there, finally retiring after over twenty-five years, during which time she also earned her liberal arts degree at Northern Essex.
Edwina was a skilled seamstress, with a love of textiles from her days at Lowell Tech. In her younger days, she sewed many of her own clothes and her children's, and even created her daughter's wedding gown. A devoted grandmother who never missed a birthday, school event or big game, she continued to sew for her grandchildren, too. In retirement, she took quilting classes, and enjoyed the friendships she made there as much as the quilts she created.
Edwina was always doing for and thinking about others, and that included the many charities she supported, especially those that helped the poor and disenfranchised. The one dearest to her heart was St. Vincent de Paul in her beloved Haverhill, MA. She was a volunteer there for many years, continuing even after moving up to Manchester, where she also knitted many hats for soldiers and newborns.
Edwina leaves behind her daughter, Carolyn Walcott and husband Larry of Bedford, NH; her son, Randy DeSimone and wife Elaine of South Dakota; her mother, Helena Bernat of Washington; brother, Laurence Bernat and wife Kathie of Colorado; brother, Allan Bernat of Wisconsin; sister, Candace Nichols and husband John of Oregon; sister, Angela Schnell and husband Darwin of Washington; grandchildren, Savannah, Sierra and Zachery; as well as a niece, several nephews and cousins, and extended family and friends.
A memorial Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10:00am on Tuesday, June 26th at Blessed Sacrament Church, 14 Elm St, Manchester, NH 03103.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Edwina's memory may be made to St. Vincent de Paul Society, St. James Conference, 6 Cottage Street, Haverhill, MA 01830.
Assisting with arrangements is Phaneuf Funeral Homes and Crematorium. For directions to the church or to leave a condolence message for the family, visit www.phaneuf.net
Edwina was raised in Littleton and North Reading, MA, and was a graduate of Billerica High School; after graduation, she studied at Lowell Tech. Like many of her generation, Edwina married and started a family in her early twenties. While raising her family, she was a volunteer with Campfire Girls and was very involved with their yearly candy sales. A very accomplished baker, she ran a successful in-home business. Everyone loved her delicious cakes, pies, cookies and other goodies.
An early feminist and proponent of Equal Rights for women, she returned to the workforce, first part time, then third shift and Analog Devices. She worked in several different departments there, finally retiring after over twenty-five years, during which time she also earned her liberal arts degree at Northern Essex.
Edwina was a skilled seamstress, with a love of textiles from her days at Lowell Tech. In her younger days, she sewed many of her own clothes and her children's, and even created her daughter's wedding gown. A devoted grandmother who never missed a birthday, school event or big game, she continued to sew for her grandchildren, too. In retirement, she took quilting classes, and enjoyed the friendships she made there as much as the quilts she created.
Edwina was always doing for and thinking about others, and that included the many charities she supported, especially those that helped the poor and disenfranchised. The one dearest to her heart was St. Vincent de Paul in her beloved Haverhill, MA. She was a volunteer there for many years, continuing even after moving up to Manchester, where she also knitted many hats for soldiers and newborns.
Edwina leaves behind her daughter, Carolyn Walcott and husband Larry of Bedford, NH; her son, Randy DeSimone and wife Elaine of South Dakota; her mother, Helena Bernat of Washington; brother, Laurence Bernat and wife Kathie of Colorado; brother, Allan Bernat of Wisconsin; sister, Candace Nichols and husband John of Oregon; sister, Angela Schnell and husband Darwin of Washington; grandchildren, Savannah, Sierra and Zachery; as well as a niece, several nephews and cousins, and extended family and friends.
A memorial Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10:00am on Tuesday, June 26th at Blessed Sacrament Church, 14 Elm St, Manchester, NH 03103.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Edwina's memory may be made to St. Vincent de Paul Society, St. James Conference, 6 Cottage Street, Haverhill, MA 01830.
Assisting with arrangements is Phaneuf Funeral Homes and Crematorium. For directions to the church or to leave a condolence message for the family, visit www.phaneuf.net
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Edwina Rose DeSimone, please visit our flower store.
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