Carolyn Rita (Larkin) Simon

Sweet Caroline – gentle, strong and courageous

R. Carolyn Simon, 97, (born Rita Caroline Larkin), passed into eternal life on February 16, 2016. The daughter of Mary and Bernard Larkin, she was born in Lost Creek, PA and spent most of her early years in the Shenandoah/Hazleton area.  She was the fourth of their ten children.

Carolyn was trained as a Registered Nurse, receiving her degree at St. Agnes in Philadelphia.  She worked in NYC at the Episcopal Hospital, specializing in pediatric nursing.  She accepted a Fellowship at St. Louis University, where she met the love of her life, Dr. Thomas Raymond Simon, who was a medical school resident at the time.  They married after a brief courtship and were married for nearly 64 years until his passing in 2011.  Most of their married life was spent in the Syracuse, NY area.  Life was exciting for them; raising their children, moving now and then, and traveling the world. Carolyn was a gourmet cook and an accomplished china painter.  She would say that by far the most gratifying times in her long life, though, were spent caring for her family.  Carolyn was a mentor to her daughters and possessed an inner strength her family was blessed to know . She was truly a sweet and loving lady, and her wonderful Irish smile would put anyone at ease.

Carolyn was predeceased by her parents, siblings, and infant son, Victor Peter.  She is survived by her daughters:  Mary (James) Bright, Nancy (Robert) Moran, Carol (Jack) Harrigan, and Helene (Terence) Fenlon, and special niece Susan (Gary) Hoovler.  She also leaves behind grandchildren: James Bright, Jeanne (Colin) Bright, Caroline (Chad) Kettering, Margaret Moran, Liam and Patrick Harrigan; great-grandsons, Reid and Wynn Kettering; and special great-nephew, Todd (Monica) Hoovler, and their children, Hadley and Cohen, and many nieces and nephews.

Special thanks to the staff of Country Meadows and Celtic Hospice. To honor the Country Meadows staff who provided her such loving care for over two years, the family suggests that in lieu of flowers, tax-deductible donations be considered to The Country Meadows Co-Worker Foundation, 830 Cherry Drive, Hershey, PA 17033.

Services will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Mechanicsburg, PA on Monday, February 29th at 1:00 p.m.  Private burial will be held at the family’s convenience.

Carolyn’s family has entrusted her care to Myers – Buhrig Funeral Home and Crematory in Mechanicsburg, (717) 766-3421.  Read Carolyn’s full obituary and sign her official guest book at www.Myers-Buhrig.com .