LUCY VIOLET SIMMS

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LUCY VIOLET SIMMS

(ORMROD)

Violet Simms passed away on March 19, 2026 at the Grace Hospice, a wonderful caring resource in our community for those living out the last days of their lives.

Violet was born in St. Eustache, Manitoba on June 12, 1929 to Lucy (Colmar) and John Ormrod. She is predeceased by her older sister Mary, younger sister Marion, and her youngest brother John. The Ormrod family lived for the first ten years of Violet’s life in Elie, Manitoba where she had many fond memories of her early childhood years, including the development of a lifelong passion for speaking French.

In 1956, Violet married Eldon George Simms and together they had two daughters, Lorna and Marilyn, along with two sons, Tom and Rob. Sadly, Eldon passed away in 1981 at the young age of 49 years old.

Violet was also predeceased by her father-in-law, Eldon Franklin Simms, mother-in-law, Margaret and sister-in-law, Kathleen.

Family was central to Violet’s life. She embraced welcoming her children’s partners, Trish, Karin, Terri-Lynn, Mark, Urszula, Marissa and Pedro, to her family. Violet loved being Nana for Lar (Abby), Ashley, Gen, Leyland, Wesley, Camille (Ely), Leigh (Jon), Jenna and Aidan (Taylor). As well, she was thrilled to be the Great Nana, or G-Nan, for Benny and Tommy. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren felt her deep love, care, and kindness, along with enjoying her cheeky sense of humour. She made all of her family members feel special.

Violet had many interests. She was a singer, knitter, puzzler and gardener. For many years she enjoyed singing in church choirs, a gigging women’s quartet, and in the Winnipeg Philharmonic Choir, as well as listening to choral and classical music. She was an avid knitter and was knitting scarves and hats for her family members right up to her final days when she was in palliative and hospice care. Violet had a green thumb and especially liked tending to her geraniums, lilies of the valley, and indoor violet plants. A visit with Violet often involved a game of cribbage or helping her to complete one of her many puzzles that she enjoyed doing over the years.

The family would like to thank Violet’s nurses at Klinic Community Health, her home care workers, doctors, and the staff at the Riverview Health Centre and the Grace Hospice for the compassionate care they provided her over the years, especially during her final months when she was hospitalized.

A life well lived, grounded in faith, hope and love, aptly describes the earthly journey of Lucy Violet Simms.

On Friday, June 12, 2026, a celebration of Violet’s life will take place at 11:00 a.m. at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, 830 North Drive. Family and friends are invited to attend.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 28, 2026