Barbara Simonis

Barbara Ann Simonis, 85, of Rantoul died Monday (April 8, 2024) at Accolade Health Care of Paxton on Pells.

Barbara was born at her grandmother’s house in Rossiter, PA on March 27, 1939, the daughter of John and Agnes (Kurtz) Washolovich.

Barbara was a 1957 graduate of Pine Township High School in Heilwood, PA. After graduation, she moved to Washington, D.C., where she worked at the Federal Aviation Agency and met the love of her life, Kenneth Simonis. They wed on Feb. 17, 1962, at St. Thomas Mure Catholic Church in Washington, D.C., and lived 62 years of wedded bliss raising their family and traveling for military assignments and pleasure. Barbara retired from a long career in administrative support at Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul in September 1993.

In addition to being survived by her husband, she was the proud grandma of two granddaughters, Cayla (Lyle) Waters of Sellers and Regan (Clayton) Myers of O’Fallon; and four great-grandchildren, Natalie Waters, Robert Waters, Adele Myers and baby Myers due in May 2024. She is further survived by one sister, Nancy (Ron) Smychynsky of Carrolltown, PA; three sisters-in-law, Barbara Haessig of Waukesha, WI, Frances (Jim) Oldenhoff of Watertown, WI, and Terry (Darrel) Oldenhoff of Rhinelander, WI; one aunt, Margaret Moore of Erie, PA; and an abundance of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and pig figurines.

Barbara will forever be remembered as thoughtful and generous, with a knack for cooking and baking delicious meals and treats. She believed in celebrating every holiday, birthday, milestone event, or accomplishment and never let one of these occasions pass by without a celebratory card or note. She loved taking pictures and arranging photo books to reminisce on memories and saved every piece of artwork, newspaper clipping, program, etc. involving her loved ones.

Barbara also took pride in remembering what made her loved ones happy. It wasn't uncommon to show up at her house and leave with a bag of stuff she bought or made for you just because she remembered you said you liked something. She was usually one of the first people to show up to something to support or cheer on her loved ones.

She was preceded in death by her daughter Teresa Simonis Emkes; parents; grandparents; father and mother-in-law Leo and Edith Simonis; brother- and sister-in-law Nick and Josephine Meola; brother-in-law Richard Haessig; aunt Ann Haag; and uncles George, Michael, Joseph, and Victor Kurtz.

The family has entrusted Freese Funeral Home, St. Joseph, with Barbara’s final wishes. Per her request, a funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 13, at St. Malachy Catholic Church, Rantoul. Father Joel Phelps will officiate. Burial will follow at St. Lawrence Cemetery, Penfield.

 Memorials may be made to the St. Malachy Catholic Church building fund.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Barbara Simonis, please visit our floral store.