Florence Therese De Simone

Florence Therese De Simone passed away peacefully on May 24, 2023, at the age of 94. Florence was the first daughter born to Charles Xavier Remington and Leone Krohn Remington on August 10, 1928, in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Florence was raised in a loving and religious home – finding joy early in her childhood just minutes down the hill from her home on the shores of Lake Michigan. She attended local schools: St George Catholic School, Mary D. Bradford High School and the University of Wisconsin in Madison, Wisconsin, earning her BA in 1950.

Florence met her late husband William (Bill) at the campus library while attending the university, and fell in love. After their wedding in 1951, they set their sights on moving to California. Both Florence and Bill accepted teaching positions in the Merced City School District. Thereafter, Florence stayed home to raise their six children after the birth of their first child.

Florence’s life was full of many interests and activities. Volunteering was a large part of her life: storytelling at the Merced County Public Library, working at the Applegate Zoo gift shop and active with the Camp Fire Girls program. She enjoyed reading, playing golf, attending performances at Merced Playhouse and valued playing cards with her friends in her bridge groups. Florence was a member of AAUW, California Retired Teachers Association and National Recreation and Park Association. She spent many vacations with her family camping and backpacking in the mountains of Yosemite. Her spirit of adventure found her hiking to the summit of Mt. Whitney and Half Dome and backpacking across the Grand Canyon.

In the summer of 1969, the family piled into their station wagon, pulling their tent trailer and camped across the country to Washington DC, New York, Niagara Falls, visiting national parks, museums (points of interest) and family in Wisconsin. Florence valued her family visits to Wisconsin and holiday celebrations with family in Salinas, CA. Later in life, Florence and Bill traveled to Australia to see the Great Barrier Reef, Italy to see the Colosseum and other sights, Canada visiting Hudson Bay teeming with Beluga whales and lodging on the polar bear migration route.

Florence’s legacy will be remembered and missed greatly by her children. She filled her home with the joys of music and the love of learning and laughing. Most importantly her wholesome nurturing remains everlasting in the lives of her family.

Florence was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Leone Remington, her husband Bill De Simone and brother-in-law Frank Rossi. She is survived by her two sisters Beverly Rossi and Gloria Arneson (Richard) and her six children, Joseph De Simone (Jean), Annette Kiser (Steve), Christine De Simone Weaver (Rick), Jacquelyn De Simone, Willa De Simone-Koob (Wayne), Rosanne De Simone (Cindy Leonard) and her devoted grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Memorial service will be held on Thursday, June 15, 2023, 10am and reception to follow at St Patrick’s Parish, 671 E. Yosemite Avenue in Merced. In lieu of flowers contributions to Friends of the Merced County Library or to the charity of the donor's choice would be appreciated.

The family would like to offer a special thank you to the staff of Park Merced and Hinds Hospice for their tender care during Florence’s last days.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.stratfordevansfunerals.com for the Desimone family.