Jane F. Simon

Leroy—A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 4:00 PM on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Leroy honoring the life of Jane Frederick Simon, 87. She died peacefully at home surrounded by family on Wednesday, June 5, following a long, well fought, battle with Parkinson’s Disease. She will be laid to rest at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Cemetery with Reverend Paul Bienvenu officiating the services, concelebrated by Reverand Louis J. Richard. Pallbearers will be Bryan Simon, Mark Simon, Damian Calato, Peter DeHart, Keith Dronet, and Dominic Calato. Honorary Pallbearers will be Dale Frederick, Noah Pontiff, Tommy Delhomme, Donald Domingue, John Robin, and Mike Simon.

Jane was a faithful woman of strength. She filled her life with what was most important to her – faith, family, and friends. All who were fortunate enough to know her would know of her deep love for her beloved husband Rex (deceased), her five children, eight grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren. She led the family with high standards for doing what was right, for practicing strong faith in their home, and for preserving daily family time around meals and evening rosaries.

She also generously shared her faith with others. For many years she taught Catechism to the First Communion class at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, was a member of the Parish Council and the Ladies Altar Society, and was a Lector at mass.

Jane grew up near Maurice and made life-long friendships with her classmates at Maurice High School. She met Rex when he transferred in for their 8th grade year. They dated throughout high school and were in a class of 18 students.

Jane was always a hard worker. She was an excellent Homemaker with a passion for preparing and serving excellent food to her family and friends who visited. She prepared three delicious meals a day for their family of seven making sure to work in everyone’s favorites. She was known for her delicious desserts and homemade candies during the holidays. Rex often jokingly said that he married her for her homemade pies. Even in her final days when she was bedridden, she was concerned about what to serve those who came to see her.

Jane enjoyed several pastimes in her life. For decades, she and Rex played weekly card games with other couples who became some of their very dearest friends. She enjoyed her women’s Pokeno groups and later in life, liked playing Gin Rummy with her family and other care givers. Jane enjoyed music and attending concerts and theatre. She began her days with early morning prayer time and enjoyed being outdoors, particularly her daily three-mile walks and nurturing her flower beds to watch beauty grow. Jane loved traveling with her family and with other couples.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 68 years, Rex O. Simon who passed away on April 30, 2023; her parents, Elier Frederick and Nemese Benoit Frederick; two sisters, Velta Frederick Dartez and her husband Harold, and Loula Mae Frederick Broussard and her husband Lurby; three brothers, Lynwood Frederick, Lully Frederick and his wife Imy, and George Frederick and his wife Beatrice; and one sister-in-law, Janet Broussard Frederick.

She is survived by five children, Della DeHart and her husband, Peter of Abbeville, Julie Simon-Dronet and her husband, Keith of Lafayette, Ellen Calato and her husband, Damian of Baton Rouge, Bryan Simon and his wife, Roslyn of Leroy, and Mark Simon and his wife, Amy of Maurice. She also leaves behind eight grandchildren, Noah Pontiff, Nikki Calato Allen (Adron), Kerri Calato Guidry (Dave), Sara Dronet Young, Natalie Dronet Weaver (Chad), Dominic Calato, Kacy Simon, and Meg Simon; and seven great grandchildren, Rex Allen, Warner Young, Amelie Allen, James Weaver, Hayes Young, William Weaver, and Graham Young. Jane is also survived by a brother, Dale Frederick of Lafayette.

The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home in Abbeville, 209 S. St. Charles St., on Monday, June 10, 2024, from 4:00 PM until 9:00 PM. A rosary will be prayed at 6:30 PM by Jane and Rex’s children, as they did as a family daily. Visitation will continue on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, at Vincent Funeral Home, from 10:00 AM until 3:15 PM when the procession departs for the church.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any charitable contributions be made to Hospice of Acadiana at hospiceacadiana.com or to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital at stjudememorialfoundation.org in honor of Jane Frederick Simon.

The Simon family would like to thank the compassionate staff of Hospice of Acadiana and Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center, Dr. Michael Alexander, Dr. Virginia Kellner, Dr. Chad Vincent, Dr. James Bienvenu and other professionals who helped care for Jane. Heartfelt gratitude goes out from Jane’s family to the loving care givers who came into her home bringing friendship and assistance over the past few years. They include Jerie Olivier, Sylvia Willis, Ida Stelly, Olivia Briolo, Bonnie Benoit, Vickey Broussard, Donna Bodin, Debbie Baudoin, and Page Berard.