In Memory of Irene Simkin

Irene Simkin (born Marshall)
April 15, 1927 (Sheffield, England) – May 28, 2017 (Canberra, Australia)

Daughter of Lotti & Ernest Marshall;
Sister of Margaret, Ernest & Eric;
Ex-Wife of Max;
Mother of Richard, Mandy, Tim and Toby;
Grandmother of Michael, Ashley, Troy, Emma & Brett;
Godmother to Mandy Vilimaa-White.

Program

Service

Eulogy

Condolences

Photographs

Memorial Service

10:30am,
June 2, 2017
The Chapel
101 Nettlefold St
Belconnen
ACT 2617
Australia

80th Birthday

Memorial Service Key Video

Abide With Me: Featuring a rough timeline in photography of Mum’s life, set to a special mix of “Nimrod” Variation IX (Adagio) the 9th variation on the 1899 Enigma Variations (performed by The London Symphony Orchestra) c. Edward Elgar; and “Abide With Me” is a hymn by Scottish Anglican Henry Francis Lyte, composed by William Henry Monk, performed by Emeli Sandé. Lyte was dying of tuberculosis as he wrote it which celebrates human endeavour with a reminder that we need God’s help and comfort.

Full Service Video

Video of the complete memorial service for Irene Simkin, from June 2, 2017 at The Chapel, ACT, Australia. Led by Duntroon Military Chaplain, the Reverend Peter Rose, OAM, with an audience of approximately 50 close family and friends.
[We apologize for the audio quality of the service video , this was from our “backup” video. The primary video unfortunately was not saved at the Chapel, since the grossly inefficient Tobin Brothers staff at Belconnen Chapel did not save the video to disc. As a result, the primary video has been lost forever. Therefore, this backup video I decided to shoot anticipating problems with Tobin Brothers is all that remains. With special thanks to Andrew Dell for setting up and operating my GoPro camera. I used a parabolic equalizer to improve the audio quality as best as I could.]

🇨🇳 in China, all foreign sites are blocked, scan my WeChat Channel QR to watch:

Videos & Music used in the Memorial Service:

Pre Service Arrivals

Entry Music (sequence) – The Funeral Hymn “/ “Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika” (1978 film “Cry Freedom”) c. George Fenton, Jonas Gwangwa and Thuli Dumakude [in tribute to her South African family members]; “Ave Maria” (Peter Jobach) c. Franz Schubert; “Panis Angelicus” (Choir) c. César Franck; “Our God, Our Help in Ages Past” (King’s College Choir Cambridge) c. William Croft & Isaac Watts [in rememberance of her attending the funeral of Sir Sir Winston Churchill in 1965]; “Even Though You’re Gone” (Angelis); “You’ll Never Walk Alone” (Broadway’s “Carousel”, performed by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir) c. Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein [representing her love of musical theatre, and particularly this song]; “Crimond / Psalm 23”: “The Lord Is My Shepherd” (Choirboys: Patrick Aspbury, Ben Inman & CJ Porter-Thaw) c. Jessie Seymour Irvine; “Ave Maria” (Petter Bjallo) c. Franz Schubert; Ending with “Panis Angelicus” (Aled Jones) c. César Franck.

God Be In My Head

“God Be In My Head” c. Sir Henry Walford Davies KCVO OBE

God be in my head, and in my understanding; God be in mine eyes, and in my looking; God be in my mouth, and in my speaking; God be in my heart, and in my thinking; God be at mine end, and at my departing

‘A’ Your Adorable

A personal reflection based on a song that both Irene Simkin and her granddaughter, Ashley Jeanroy, often shared. “’A’ You’re Adorable” (performed by Perry Como, with The Fontane Sisters) c. Sid Lippman and lyrics by Buddy Kaye and Fred Wise.

Abide With Me

Special mix of “Nimrod” Variation IX (Adagio) the 9th variation on the 1899 Enigma Variations (performed by The London Symphony Orchestra) c. Edward Elgar; and “Abide With Me” is a hymn by Scottish Anglican Henry Francis Lyte, composed by William Henry Monk, performed by Emeli Sandé. Lyte was dying of tuberculosis as he wrote it which celebrates human endeavour with a reminder that we need God’s help and comfort.

Time to Say Goodbye

Recessional Music: “Time To Say Goodbye” (Andrea Boccelli & Sarah Brightman) c. Lucio Quarantotto & Frencesco Sartoni; “Walking in the Air” (Aled Jones) c. Howard Blake.

Favorite Things

Dark Chocolate
Brandy
Spicy Curries
Cheese
BBC TV Dramas
Andrea Bocelli
Turquoise Colour
Aled Jones
Asian Food
Parachuting
Cruise Ship Travel
Classical Music
ABC Comedies
Smell of Cigars
Iced Coffee & Nutmeg
Musical Theatre
Future Technologies
Black Coffee
Good Friends
Family

An International Life

1927 born in Sheffield, England

1933 age 6 fostered by a defacto mother – Paddy.

1934 age 7, conducted 22 piece school band

1943 joined the R.A.F. during World War II

1945 comissioned in the Royal Air Force

1945 Asst. to Marshal of the R.A.F. at Whitehall

1947 posted to Singapore

1948 awarded the Malaya Medal

1948 posted to England

1949 posted to Bushy Park, England

1950 met her future husband parachute training

1952 resigned R.A.F. commission & moved to Sydney

1953 married Maxwell Byron Simkin

1954 gave birth to Richard Maxwell Simkin

1956 gave birth to Amanda Jane Simkin

1957 moved to Penang, Malaysia

1959 gave birth to Timothy Alexander Simkin

1959 moved to Melbourne, Australia

1960 moved to Wagga Wagga, Australia

1961 moved to Latimer, England

1964 gave birth to Toby James Simkin

1965 moved to Canberra, Australia

1972 moved to Brisbane, Australia

1973 moved to Washington DC, USA

1976 moved to Brisbane, Australia

1979 began management at XII Commonwealth Games

1980 divorced Brigadier General M.B. Simkin

1988 produced radio shows in Brisbane, Australia

1991 moved to Crownsville, USA

1993 moved to Toronto, Canada

1993 became Canadian Landed Immigrant

1996 moved to Canberra, Australia

2017 passed away in Canberra, Australia

Irene Simkin

SPECIAL THANKS

Thanks to the generous donations from Elaine Beaumont, Gloria Marshall, Stella Wizniak, DJ Wizniak & I, a 14 month girl named Wei Shunmei from the Miao minority in Guizhou province had much needed open heart surgery on November 27 and has been given new life in my mothers name.

Update from Heart to Heart Shanghai (Jul 2018)

Photos and video received from the grateful father of Wei Shunmei to show how she is stronger every day, and has new life thanks to generosity of donors to the “In Memory of Irene Simkin Fund”.

Update from Heart to Heart Shanghai (Oct 2018)

DJ and many Heart to Heart volunteers visited Wei Shunmei in Guizhou. She is now 2 years old. Wei Shunmei and her grandparents were at their home when they went to see her. Her 10 year old brother was in school. Her parents were working. Wei Shunmei was upset almost the whole time we were there since she was a bit overwhelmed. However, she was doing quite well. Her coloring was good and she is obviously growing. Her grandmother said that she is healthy now and never gets sick any more. The grandparents were quite happy about the outcome of the surgery. Wei Shunmei and her family live in an old style Miao home that was built by the grandfather’s great-grandparents. (see photo on left) It is kept very well – neat and clean inside, but is in real need of repair. There are holes in the walls wooden which are simply patched with newspaper from 10 years ago. The concrete floors have a hole in each room to build a fire in the winter. The main room is full of rice drying on the floor. Despite the hardships that they obviously face, they are looking forward to a great future. Since both parents are now working things should get better for them. Heart to Heart gave the family a large bag filled with clothing, toiletries, toys, etc. They were well received. They also gave them a large hongbao (money) to help with expenses and Wei Shunmei’s education. They were extremely happy to receive it.

Update from Heart to Heart Shanghai (Feb 2019)

Wei ShunMei’s family sent this lovely photograph of her at the beginning of Spring Festival (February 2019) in her hometown in Guizhou province. She is obviously doing very well.

RESTING