Joan Ruth Simon, 89, of The Villages, Florida, passed away peacefully on June 19, 2026.
Joan was preceded in death by her beloved husband of many years, Thomas Simon Sr.; and her daughter, Susan Dale Simon.
She is survived by: her daughters, Terri Simon, Shirlee (Simon) Vela, and Joni (Richard) Gliwa; her sons, Thomas (Debra) Simon Jr., John A. (Cassie) Simon, and Mark Simon; her cherished grandchildren, Kristina (Jason) Sullins, Ashley (William) Mejia, Susan (Daniel) Spano, Sheena (Ryan) Schau, Matthew Simon, Jennifer (Brock) LeGrand, and John M. Simon; and her twelve beautiful great-grands: Brooklyn, Skylar, Dominic, Vincent, Gianna, Vivienne, Luke, Drew, Isabella, Sophia, Raymond, and Victoria, all of whom lovingly knew her as “Mimi.”
Joan was born in Chicago on January 12, 1937, to Frank and Helen Paulan. She married the love of her life, Thomas Simon Sr. in 1953, beginning a beautiful love story that started when they were teenagers. After living in Chicago, they made their home in Posen, Illinois where they raised the large family Joan had always dreamed of.
In the mid-1960s, Joan began her career at Bell General Credit Union as an office clerk. Through hard work, determination, and exceptional leadership, she rose through the ranks to become President and CEO, serving with integrity until her retirement in 1999. She inspired countless colleagues throughout her career and was admired for her strength, warmth, and ability to lead with both confidence and compassion.
While Joan achieved tremendous professional success, her greatest accomplishment was the family she built. She poured her heart into every holiday, birthday, family gathering, and the everyday moments that became lifelong memories.
Joan embraced life with remarkable enthusiasm. She was outgoing, energetic, and had an infectious zest for life that drew people to her. She loved to laugh, dance, travel, and celebrate every occasion. She loved people and she loved to have fun!
Her favorite holiday was Christmas. She loved everything about it—the decorations, the music, the traditions, the gift-giving, and, most importantly, having her family together. Christmas at Grandma’s was filled with warmth, excitement, and traditions that her family will treasure forever.
She was also a devoted Chicago Cubs fan, faithfully cheering them on through every season.
Joan had a lifelong love of classic movies, a passion that began during childhood when her grandmother would take her to the movie theaters. Those cherished outings sparked a love for film that she later shared with her children and grandchildren, creating countless special memories together.
Another favorite pastime was watching soap operas—especially Days of Our Lives and General Hospital. Countless afternoons were spent watching together with her granddaughters, laughing, talking, and shared tradition that will continue on for generations to come.
Animals also held a special place in Joan’s heart. Throughout her life, she always had a beloved dog by her side, including Snooky, Bootsie, Lucky, Barney, Alex, Heidi, and Molly, each one considered a cherished member of the family.
Joan leaves behind a legacy of love, strength, laughter, generosity, and unwavering devotion to family. Though she will be profoundly missed, her spirit lives on through the traditions she created, the values she instilled, and the countless memories shared by those fortunate enough to know and love her.
A Celebration of Joan’s Life will be held at a later date, where family and friends will gather to honor her remarkable life, share stories, and celebrate the joy she brought to everyone around her. Details will be shared once arrangements have been finalized.
In lieu of flowers, the family encourages everyone to honor Joan’s memory by spending time with those you love, sharing a laugh, watching a classic movie, cheering for the Cubs, or simply creating memories together—just as Joan always did.