Rose Simmons

Rose Marie Simmons died on June 8, 2012, at St. Vincent Hospice. She was born February 7, in Johnstown, PA, the daughter of John and Mary Yenyo, who have preceded her in death. She loved growing up in Johnstown. She graduated from Johnstown High School, attended Cambria Rowe Business College, and finished with a degree in English Literature. She loved ballet and ballroom dancing, which led to a career in teaching dance for many years at the Arthur Murray Dance Studios. She met and married her now deceased husband, Dr. Richard Joseph Simmons, Ph.D, of 48 years in Erie, PA, while teaching dance. After moving to Michigan, she took a position at Michigan State University working for the Dean of Engineering. Her only son, Richard John Simmons, was born in 1959 in Lansing, MI. She moved to Indianapolis when her husband accepted a job at Eli Lilly and Co. She considered herself a Hoosier and loved Indy. She traveled the United States, Hawaii, and many Europeon countries as she and her husband were wine lovers and collectors. In her later years she was an active volunteer in visiting nursing homes. She is survived by her son, Richard John Simmons; her brother, Alexander Yenyo; her sisters-in-law, Janet Yenyo and Evelyn Powell; her many nieces and nephews: Amy and Alex Yenyo, Polly, Dennis, and Brian Powell, and Paul and Michael Whiteman. The celebration of her life will be held at Flanner and Buchanan – Broad Ripple, 1305 East Broad Ripple Avenue, by close family friend, Rev. James Rowe on Thursday, June 14, with visiting from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. and a brief service at 7:00 p.m. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Arthritis Foundation. You are invited to go to the Guest Book page to pass along your personal message or tell a story. Sincerely, -Your friends at Flanner and Buchanan