Rhona Simonsen's Obituary
Rhona Simonsen passed away April 14th at her home in Anna, Texas after a long illness. She was born August 2, 1944 to Bertram Jooste and Delene Marais Jooste in Johannesburg, South Africa. She came to North America as a young girl with her step father and mother, living in Montreal, Minneapolis and Omaha before settling in Dallas as a young teenager. She attended E.H. Cary Junior High and graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School. She attended Sam Houston State University. She was an accomplished horsewoman competing in dressage events in the Houston area. In the course of her life she built two houses from the ground up acting as sole general contractor. She retired in 2011 after a 17 year career as an office manager in the Continuing Education Department of Collin County Community College.
She was immensely proud of her South African heritage and often spoke of the nurturing influence of her South African nanny, Leana, who taught many of life’s lessons to a young girl.
Her interests included gardening, landscaping her home, cooking (shepherds pie), gemology and her beloved puppies, especially Mr. Peepers and Wootie. She was a beautiful wife and life companion and stern and loving parent who reared three children to become college graduates with successful professional careers. She loved being a grandmother and her unconditional love and nurturing wisdom will be greatly missed. Rhona’s life was a blessing to everyone who knew her.
Rhona was preceded in death by her parents and sister Teresa DeLeon. She is survived by her husband Robert Simonsen, her daughter Natalie Taylor (husband Jim Jacobson), son Stephen Daniels (wife Christina), daughter Stephanie Hoogheem, sister Denise Conley (husband Roger) and three grandchildren Megan Hoogheem, John Hoogheem and Ian Daniels, and niece Kimberly Conley.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that a donation be made to Animals Abused and Abandoned Inc, or Meals on Wheels of Collin County.
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