Denise Simon

After a courageous 17-month battle with small cell lung cancer, it is with much sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved family member and friend Denise Simon on August 20, 2018, at the age of 61.

Preceded in death by parents Anselme and Doris Senechal.

Survived by loving husband of 41 years Michael; children Kimberly (Joseph) Thiel and Kristofer (fiancé Elizabeth Guerrero) Simon; grandson Keegan Simon; siblings Paulette (Gary) Gilmore and Paul (Jaime) Renaud; and many other loving relatives and special friends.

Denise was born in Fall River, Massachusetts on June 6, 1957, the daughter of Anselme and Doris Senechal. Denise grew up in a very musical family that formed her appreciation for all types of music, but she especially loved the blues. Denise took organ lessons as a child, and was a very talented organist. On celebratory occasions, Denise would also play the spoons, a skill she learned from her family growing up. She loved to dance as well and would take a spin on the dance floor with anyone who would indulge her.

After graduating from Durfee High School in 1975, Denise went on to pursue a secretarial certification from Katharine Gibbs School. She worked as a legal secretary for the next 40 years and was a no nonsense woman who took pride in doing her job well.

On July 2, 1976, Denise married her high school sweetheart Michael (Mike) Simon at Notre Dame de Lourdes Church in their hometown Fall River, Massachusetts. In 1978, Denise and her husband Mike decided to move to Minnesota for career opportunities and to start a family. Denise was a wonderful wife, and she loved the adventures and life that both she and her husband Mike shared with one another during their 41 years of marriage. Mike liked to say, “She is the boss of me!” and Denise would never argue that!

Denise and Mike had two children. Kimberly Ann (Simon) Thiel born in 1981, and Kristofer Michael Simon born in 1986. Denise always put her children first and was their biggest fan in every endeavor they pursued. Denise often stated, “If you mess with my kids, you mess with me!”

On August 4, 2016 Denise’s family expanded again with the birth of her grandson, Kristofer’s son, Keegan. Denise took great joy in being a grandma, or “meme,” and she often stated that Keegan was the “light of her life!”

Sharing a home cooked meal with family and friends was one of Denise’s love languages, and she could often be found cooking up a storm in her kitchen, especially on a Sunday! Denise cooked lots of delicious dishes that payed homage to her East Coast roots. Some of her family’s most beloved dishes included, anything she made with chourico (Portuguese sausage), Gorton (French-Canadian pork spread), the egg fondue she made every Christmas morning, soy sauce chicken wings, Shepherd’s pie, and her top secret “crazy” potatoes! If you were lucky enough to share a meal with Denise chances are she would send you home with some leftovers as well, but she would always remind you that, “I’m gonna need that container back!”

Traveling was one of Denise’s preferred past times. One of her favorite places to travel to was Las Vegas. It was a perfect place to celebrate her love of night life, music, entertainment, food, slot machines, and cards. Growing up on the East Coast, Denise loved the beach as well, and Aruba was her all-time favorite tropical beach destination, although Hawaii was a close second choice! Denise also enjoyed going on wine weekends with her daughter to explore local vineyards, went on many road-trips with her husband and children in the continental US, and had the opportunity throughout her life to travel to seven countries including, Belgium, Canada, England, France, Jamaica, Mexico, and the Netherlands.

Another one of Denise’s hobbies was playing cards. She and her husband both played 500 together with a group of friends for the better part of 40 years. Denise enjoyed being her son-in-law Joe’s partner when playing 500 against her husband and daughter, and 8 spades was so often her bid that they named it “The Ma!” She also liked playing Spades with her son against her husband and soon to be daughter in law Liz. Additionally, Denise loved playing poker when she had a chance. She was adored by many of her poker playing friends and was commonly referred to by her poker playing nickname “The Mrs.”

Denise was an amazing woman, she wanted it to be known that she, lived hard, played hard, mothered hard, and lived her life with no regrets! She will be greatly missed, but her spirit will continue to live on through all of her beloved family and friends!

Celebration of life will be held on Thursday, August 30^th at Evans-Nordby Funeral Home, 34 2^nd St. NE, Osseo, with visitation from 4-6:30 PM, and memorial service at 6:30pm. Reception immediately following memorial at Clive’s Roadhouse Champlin. Internment St. Vincent de Paul Cemetery.

Memorials preferred to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research at

https://www.michaeljfox.org/tribute/tribute-page.p...