Jean ‘Jeana’ Simone

Jeana was born on Oct. 10, 1955, in Würzburg, Germany, while her father was enlisted in the Army. Jeana was a lifelong resident of the Iron Mountain area and graduated from Iron Mountain High School in 1973 where she was a member of the National Honor Society. Upon graduation, she attended Marquette University and obtained a four-year dental hygiene degree in three years. Her first job out of college was in Norway where she was a hygienist for Dr. Tom Carlson.

While she thoroughly enjoyed hygiene work, her passion lay with her family business, Perina’s Clothing Store. Jeana added a breast prosthesis fitting service which, at the time, was the only fitting service in the U.P.

Eventually Jeana, along with her sister, Julie, would become owners of the store until the business sold in 2000. At that time, she joined her husband, Nick, at the Simone Insurance Agency. Jeana retired in 2019 to spend time with her family, whom she loved dearly.

Jeana loved to be around people and enjoyed volunteering her time as a member and president of the Zonta Club, where she spearheaded the Tall Ships program and was a Pink Ribbon Chairperson. She also donated and volunteered at the Cancer Loan Closet, was secretary/treasurer of the Paisano Club as well as a member of a book study club.

Amongst all of her volunteering, serving her Lord was how she best liked to spend her time. Jeana was as an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, faith formation teacher and a lector at Immaculate Conception Parish. She was a lifelong learner and always helped others by putting their needs above her own. Jeana was an excellent cook with an emphasis on Italian cuisine. Many times, Jeana would receive a request for a large batch of her red sauce for a graduation party, reunion, anniversary, etc. Most of the time these requests came from close friends and family, but occasionally from people she hardly knew, but she never refused. Other than cooking and a love for the outdoors — even enjoying weeding to the minute detail in her beautiful flower gardens — she was a natural at being a wonderful wife, mother and Nona. Jeana’s Christian values never wavered. She accepted difficult health news with a shrug of her shoulders and never complained. She would simply place her faith in God’s hands and say “It is God’s will.”

In addition to her husband of 43 years, Nick Simone Sr., Jeana is survived by her son, Nick (Christina) Simone Jr.; daughters, Christina (Scott) Caliebe, Elissa (Randall) Howe, and Abbie (Logan) Simone; her mother, Betty Elmer; sister, Julie Mainville; brothers, Tim (Linda) Elmer and John (Tina) Elmer; sisters-in-law, Candy (Mykle) Jacobs and Cathy (Bruce) Main; brother-in-law, Paul (Sheri) Simone; grandchildren, Nora, Vincent, and Ada Caliebe, Nick III, Giada, and Luca Simone, Gabriella, Angelo, Giuliana and Antonio Howe.

She is also survived by her cousins, Jerry, Karen, Sally, Lena, Daniel, Lisa, Richard, Dwight, Sally, Christine, the Budny and Nardi Families, friends and neighbors, Dan and Lisa, Rich and Andre, Duane, Simone Agency staff, Susie and Rick, Jon and Paula, John and Linette, Rob and Debbie, Mary and Bob, Gene and Debbie, Pete and Patty, Pam and Bill, Cheryl and Larry, Bonnie and Milt, Deb J, “The Raisins” as well as many nieces and nephews; Jeana truly loved you all.

“Faithful friends are a sturdy shelter; whoever finds one, finds a treasure.” – Sirach 6:14-17

Jeana was preceded in death by her father, John “Tim” Elmer, grandmothers Perina Pastori and Eva Elmer, uncle Monsignor Charles Elmer, and her in-laws Nick and Norma Simone.

Jeana’s family would like to thank the oncology departments at Dickinson-Marshfield, especially Jim Campbell, and the University of Michigan for their exceptional care. We would also like to thank Father Mike and Father Mark, Deacon Jerry and Karen Nardi, as well as the many people who prayed for a longer, healthier life for Jeana. God had a different plan, and no matter how much time we had together, it wouldn’t have been enough. The time we spent together was a wonderful blessing.

Since Jeana, along with many others in our family are Yankee fans, we feel compelled to close with a famous statement from Lou Gehrig; our time with Jeana makes us feel as though “we are the luckiest people on the face of the earth.”

Visitation will be from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Friday at the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home in Iron Mountain.

The Mass of Christian Burial will follow at Immaculate Conception Parish at noon, with Father Mike Chenier presiding.

Pallbearers will be Jeana’s brothers, Tim and John Elmer, nephew, Matt Mainville, brother-in-law, Paul Simone, sons-in-law, Randall Howe and Scott Caliebe, special friends, Jon Pryor and Rob Barkle and honorary pallbearer, Dwight Romagnoli.

A reception will be held at Pine Grove Country Club following burial at Iron Mountain Cemetery Park.

Condolences may be expressed to the family of Jeana Simone online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com.

The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home with the arrangements.