Stroo Funeral Home - Grand Rapids, MI

Service Information

Norine E. Simmons

Service: No services
Cemetery: Resurrection Cemetery
Memorials: Humane Society of West Michigan, 3077 Wilson Dr. NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49534 https://www.hswestmi.org/,

or Mary Free Bed Foundation, 235 Wealthy St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 https://www.maryfreebed.com/foundation/

or Catholic Charities of West MI, Attn: Development, 40 Jefferson Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 https://ccwestmi.org/donate/

SIMMONS, NORINE

GRAND RAPIDS, MI

Norine E. Simmons, age 82, passed away on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. Norine was a dedicated RN at Mary Free Bed Hospital for many years. She was devoted to her Catholic faith to the very end. She was passionate about animals and was adopted by many stray cats. She loved her family deeply and will be lovingly remembered by her daughters, Jennifer Forsyth, Valerie Carswell, Deb Tomasik, and Sarah Huisman; two granddaughters, Kaytin Forsyth and Keiley Forsyth; her beloved cats, Gilly and Kenny; two brothers, Alexander "Sandy" Urgiel, Jr. and Rudolf (Rosemary) Urgiel; and her many nieces and nephews. As Norine requested, cremation has taken place and she will be laid to rest at Resurrection Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Humane Society of West MI, Mary Free Bed Foundation, or Catholic Charities of West MI.

STROO FUNERAL HOME

1095 68TH ST SE

GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49508

Comments

# Laurie Larson 2024-04-30 13:28

Years ago Noreen invited me to share her table at the Advent gathering at the CIC--I didn't know many folks at the CIC except for my RCIA group and her invitation touched me. I don't think I ever saw Noreen without a smile on her face, even when her life became difficult due to her illness. I will miss the light of that smile.

# Kimberly 2024-04-30 12:28

Norine was my next door neighbor on Everglade, from when I was born to when I moved out for college. My sisters and I would cat-sit for her when she had to go away. After college, I joined the St. Andrews cathedral church and the Catholic faith and she was there. The kindest heart, truly irreplaceable in this world.

# Louise ODonnell 2024-04-28 16:35

I had the opportunity to get to know Norine in 2016 as she struggled with her HUGE surgery & long complex recovery. She impressed me with her tenaciously & persistently positive outlook despite the odds. She, like her cats, seemed to have "9 lives," always "bouncing back" despite that her body threw at her. Even despite her multiple residual "deficits", she kept on going, staying involved in those things that gave her joy and "spreading the Word." Norine will definitely be missed.

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