Erma K. Simons

Erma Klingler Simons peacefully passed away from old age on Friday, December 16, 2022. She was 99 ¾ years old. She was the daughter of the late Frank Joseph Klingler and Ida Maria Breitenmoser (birth mother who died 11 days after giving birth to Erma) and Anna Morscher (mother who raised Erma). She was the sister of the late Walter Klingler and Otto Klingler. She was the wife of the late William Joseph Simons and mother of Daniel William Simons ( Patricia Marie Brocato-Simons), James Frank Simons (Mary Harkins Simons), and Stephanie Simons Bielec (John Anthony Bielec). She was the grandmother of Kyle Barrett Simons (Stacey Marie Simons), Kali Elizabeth Simons (Perry Lovett Martin), J. Field Flanagan (Kate Hurni Flanagan), Timothy James (T.J.) Simons (Gina Vespa), Margaret Simons Senftle (Thomas Patrick Senftle), Kaitlin Bielec Sinha (Sauradeep Sinha), John Matthew Bielec, Jacqueline Marie Bielec, and Michael William Bielec. She was the great grandmother of Fiona Grace Simons, Hazel Jane Simons, Liam Field Flanagan, Maeve Catriona Flanagan, Ronan Donald Flanagan, Sophie Catherine Senftle, Alice Leigh Senftle, and Jude John Paul Sinha.

Erma was born on March 2, 1923, in Canton, Ohio. In 1941, she graduated from Our Lady of Victory Academy HS in Columbus, Ohio. Afterwards, she attended the Vocational Arts Center to learn to be a secretary and graduated in 1942. She worked for Newark Trust Co. in Newark, Ohio and was secretary to the vice-president. Later, she worked in Westerville, Ohio at the Kilgore Manufacturing Co. where they made bombs for WWII. She was the secretary to the lieutenant who was in charge of inspecting the bombs. Erma then attended Ohio State University and graduated in 1947 with a BA in Accounting. She was in the Honorary Accounting Fraternity for Women. Afterwards, she worked for the Columbus Blank Book Co. as an accountant, and then as the office manager.

At Ohio State, Erma met her husband Bill at the Newman Club, a Catholic organization for students. They were married on August 19, 1950, at the Immaculate Conception Church in Columbus, Ohio. When Danny and Jimmy entered grade school, she taught 3rd grade at St. Teresa’s in Cincinnati, Ohio. After Bill was transferred to Baltimore by the B&O Railroad in 1953, Erma taught 3rd grade at St. Charles Borromeo in Pikesville, MD and St. Mark’s in Catonsville, MD. She stopped teaching in 1967 before Stephanie was born. Bill passed away on January 4, 1991. In 2005, Erma moved into Charlestown Retirement Community.

Erma was an avid card player and played bridge for over 60 years. She loved playing Pounce, Tripoli, and Crazy 8’s with her kids and grandchildren, enjoyed stamp collecting, and played Bingo with her Charlestown friends. She was a member of the Swiss Ladies’ Aid Society of Canton, Ohio for over 70 years. She provided meals to Our Daily Bread in Baltimore, MD for over 40 years. Erma was a devote Catholic. She participated in many Bible Studies and was fascinated with the Shroud of Turin. Friends and relatives from all over the country would call her and ask her to pray to St. Jude on their behalf for certain intentions. St. Jude has been our family patron Saint.

A visitation for Erma will be held Tuesday, December 20, 2022 from 3-5 and 7-9PM at Sterling-Ashton-Schwab-Witzke Funeral Home of Catonsville, Inc., 1630 Edmondson Ave, Catonsville, MD 21228. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10AM, Wednesday, December 21 at Our Lady of the Angels Chapel at Charlestown Retirement Community, 711 Maiden Choice Lane, Catonsville, MD 21228.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made in memory of Erma to St Jude's Children's Research Hospital at [email protected], or, Our Daily Bread at https://cc-md.org.

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