Sister Denise (Elizabeth Ann) Simms, age 103, died on Tuesday, November 12, 2013 at the Villa St. Michael in Emmitsburg, Maryland. She was born on November 8, 1910 in Issue, Maryland. Sister Denise was one of thirteen children born to John Francis and Mary Pauline (Shorter) Simms.
Sister Denise joined the Daughters of Charity on October 24, 1929 at St. Joseph Provincial House in Emmitsburg, Maryland. While in the seminary (novitiate) in Emmitsburg, she was given the privilege of completing this time of formation at the Mother House in Paris. After receiving the habit in Paris and returning to the States, Sister Denise was missioned to St. Joseph Seminary in Emmitsburg in December 1930 to assist with the formation of the Seminary Sisters. In 1935 she was missioned to St. Vincent Infant Home in Baltimore as a Child Care Worker. In 1945 she earned her Nursing Diploma at St. Agnes Hospital in Baltimore. This same year she went to St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, New York where she served as Nursing Supervisor. The following year she was missioned to St. Vincent Home and School in Washington, DC serving as a nurse while taking classes at Catholic University. In 1950 she went to Laboure' Center, Boston where she attended Boston College and completed her Bachelor of Science degree with Nursing as her major and Public Health as her minor. For twenty-one years she remained at Laboure' Center as Director of Home Nursing Service. In 1970 Sister Denise was missioned to Washington, DC where she served as Supervisor of the Infant Nursery at St. Ann's Infant Home. The following year she was asked to serve as Administrator of St. Vincent Infant Home in Timonium, Maryland. In 1975 she was missioned to Seton House in Richmond, Virginia to assume the role of Administrator. From 1983 to 1990 she served as Nursing Supervisor and Director of Nursing at Villa St. Michael in Emmitsburg, Maryland. In 1990 Sister Denise became the Outreach Coordinator at Seton Center in Emmitsburg. She remained in this position until she was missioned to Villa St. Michael in 2003 where she served in the Ministry of Prayer until her death.
Sister Denise was preceded in death by her parents and her twelve siblings. Two of her sisters were also Daughters of Charity, Sister Genevieve Simms who died in 1985 and Sister Mary Magdalen Simms who died in 1980. Another sister, Sister Mary Edith was a member of the Order of St. Francis in Utica-Syracuse, New York.
Sister Denise is survived by many nieces and nephews and her Sisters in Community.
A wake service will be held on Friday, November 15, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. in the Villa Chapel in Emmitsburg. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, November 16, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. in the Basilica of the National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Emmitsburg followed by burial in St. Joseph Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Sister Denise's name to the Daughters of Charity, 4330 Olive Street, Saint Louis, Missouri 63108.
Arrangements are by the Myers-Durboraw Funeral Home in Emmitsburg.
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Sister Denise joined the Daughters of Charity on October 24, 1929 at St. Joseph Provincial House in Emmitsburg, Maryland. While in the seminary (novitiate) in Emmitsburg, she was given the privilege of completing this time of formation at the Mother House in Paris. After receiving the habit in Paris and returning to the States, Sister Denise was missioned to St. Joseph Seminary in Emmitsburg in December 1930 to assist with the formation of the Seminary Sisters. In 1935 she was missioned to St. Vincent Infant Home in Baltimore as a Child Care Worker. In 1945 she earned her Nursing Diploma at St. Agnes Hospital in Baltimore. This same year she went to St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, New York where she served as Nursing Supervisor. The following year she was missioned to St. Vincent Home and School in Washington, DC serving as a nurse while taking classes at Catholic University. In 1950 she went to Laboure' Center, Boston where she attended Boston College and completed her Bachelor of Science degree with Nursing as her major and Public Health as her minor. For twenty-one years she remained at Laboure' Center as Director of Home Nursing Service. In 1970 Sister Denise was missioned to Washington, DC where she served as Supervisor of the Infant Nursery at St. Ann's Infant Home. The following year she was asked to serve as Administrator of St. Vincent Infant Home in Timonium, Maryland. In 1975 she was missioned to Seton House in Richmond, Virginia to assume the role of Administrator. From 1983 to 1990 she served as Nursing Supervisor and Director of Nursing at Villa St. Michael in Emmitsburg, Maryland. In 1990 Sister Denise became the Outreach Coordinator at Seton Center in Emmitsburg. She remained in this position until she was missioned to Villa St. Michael in 2003 where she served in the Ministry of Prayer until her death.
Sister Denise was preceded in death by her parents and her twelve siblings. Two of her sisters were also Daughters of Charity, Sister Genevieve Simms who died in 1985 and Sister Mary Magdalen Simms who died in 1980. Another sister, Sister Mary Edith was a member of the Order of St. Francis in Utica-Syracuse, New York.
Sister Denise is survived by many nieces and nephews and her Sisters in Community.
A wake service will be held on Friday, November 15, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. in the Villa Chapel in Emmitsburg. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, November 16, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. in the Basilica of the National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Emmitsburg followed by burial in St. Joseph Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Sister Denise's name to the Daughters of Charity, 4330 Olive Street, Saint Louis, Missouri 63108.
Arrangements are by the Myers-Durboraw Funeral Home in Emmitsburg.