Alvena L. "Pat" Simons

The vibrant life of Alvena L. "Pat" Simons came to a peaceful close on December 4, 2023. Born on May 27, 1931, in Robinson, IL, where she would also draw her last breath, Pat's journey was as full-hearted as it was long.

Pat's youthful days bloomed in the very town that shaped her, growing up in a pumper shack where West Lake now offers its serene waters. In 1949, she graduated from Robinson High School, where the seeds of her future diligence and exceptional work ethic were sown. Pat worked diligently in various roles throughout her life. She brought her nurturing spirit to the Guidance Office at RHS then lent her sharp eye for detail to Weber Insurance. She took pride in her role as a proof machine operator at both the Second National Bank and Crawford County State Bank. Pat's industrious hands also served her community at Marty's Market, and she filled her later years with love and care, working as a cook at the Gingerbread House, her daughter's daycare.

Her life outside of work was a tapestry of motion and creation. She and her husband Don were familiar figures square dancing across the region, their moves and steps as in sync as the matching outfits she lovingly crafted. An impeccable seamstress, Pat's hands were responsible for countless wedding dresses, doll clothes, baby outfits, and stunning quilts that have become treasured family heirlooms. Outside, she spent innumerable hours tending to her garden and also took delight in picking wild blackberries and gooseberries, from which she intricately crafted pies, cobblers, and dumplings. Renowned for her culinary skills, Pat's kitchen was the stuff of legend. Homemade bread, beef & noodles, butter dips, pies - she made it all without reliance on recipes, her intuition guiding every pinch and dash. Sunday dinners at Pat's house were open to all, an extension of her generous spirit. Her dinner table, around which so many gathered, extended beyond family as she warmly welcomed friends and strangers alike-a testimony to her friendliness and faith.

Her commitment to her God was embodied in her many years as a Sunday school teacher at the New Hebron Baptist Church, and she continued to worship her Savior at South Union Church in the twilight of her life. Pat constantly demonstrated her walk with Jesus through her actions and often reminded her family of the strength that can be found in Philippians 4:13. Pat truly believed that she could do all things in Christ, who strengthened her throughout her 92 years.

Pat Simons leaves behind more than just a legacy of love and life; she leaves a standard of living - a map of what it truly means to embrace every day with vitality, creativity, and a commitment to those she held dear. Her absence will be deeply felt, not only by her family but also by every life touched by her extraordinary presence.

She is survived by her son, Donnie Simons (Robinson, IL); by her daughters & sons-in-law, Lorraine & Dan Turner (Robinson, IL), Jo D. & Victor Chubrilo (Robinson, IL), and Amy Stone (Robinson, IL); by her grandchildren, Katherine & Shawn Sullivan, Jason Young, Jay & Lisa Turner, Amy & Jeff Mossman, Nicole & Mike Foust, Dillon & Jodi Stone, Emma & Blake Callaway; by twenty great-grandchildren; and by several nieces and nephews.

She married Donald Simons on March 4, 1949, and he preceded her in death on August 13, 2015. She was also preceded in death by her parents, Alvin & Gladys A. (Hall) Wright; her son, Charles Alvin Simons; her son-in-law, Mark Stone; her brother, Jack Wright; and her sisters, Mary Catherine Gower, Jane McDaniel, and Martha Jennings.

It was Pat's wish to be cremated, and a private graveside will be held at the Robinson New Cemetery at a later date. The Goodwine Funeral Home in Robinson is in charge of these arrangements.