Verena N. Simmons, age 98, passed away at the Coos County Nursing Home in Berlin, NH, on October 2, 2021 in the full assurance of her resurrection at the second coming of Jesus Christ, her Lord and Savior. Verena had been a resident of the nursing home since Nov. 2018, after suffering a stroke. Other health reasons had led to her moving to Shelburne, NH in 2014 to live with her daughter and son-in-law, Eva Jane and Reny Demers. Until then, she had lived all of her life in Friendship, ME, where she was born on May 14, 1923 to LaForest Myron and Edith Murphy Neal. She attended Friendship Village School through grade 10 and then graduated from Thomaston High School in 1940. On September 13, 1941, she married Myron "Mike" Simmons and shared 53 years of marriage until his death in 1995. There in Friendship she, with her beloved husband, raised two daughters, Janet and Eva Jane, devoting her time to family, home, and church. She was a life member of the Friendship Advent Christian Church at which she played the piano and organ, sang in the choir, helped wherever she could, and was in the WH&FM Society, of which she was a long-time secretary. Until her stroke, she often passed the time doing word search puzzles, reading, and sending cards. Mrs. Simmons is survived by daughters Janet (George) Krapovicky of Auburn, ME and Eva Jane Demers of Shelburne, NH; grandchildren Lisa (Andy) Fuellemann of Groton, MA, Ellen (Todd) Ross of Randolph, NH, and Michael and Matthew (Narnia) Krapovicky of Auburn, ME; great grandchildren Gwen and Max Fuellemann, Phoebe Ross, and Marcus, Emelia, and Braiden Krapovicky; brother Rev. Edward (Palma) Neal of Lenoir, NC; sisters-in-law Sylvia Neal of Friendship,ME and Arlene (Dorian) Williamson of Live Oak, FL; and numerous nieces and nephews. Verena was preceded in death by her husband Mike Simmons, parents Myron and Edith Neal, brothers Richard and Russell Neal, and son-in-law Reny Demers. A funeral service will be held at 1:30 pm on Sunday October 10, 2021, at the Advent Christian Church in Friendship with Pastor Alan Chamberlin officiating, immediately followed by interment at the Harbor Cemetery. Both Bryant & Fleury-Patry Funeral Home in Berlin, NH and Hall Funeral Home in Waldoboro, ME have been entrusted with her care. There are no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, Mrs. Simmons wished that memorial gifts be made to the Friendship Advent Christian Church, PO Box 9, Friendship, ME 04547. A special thank you is extended to all the staff at the Coos County Nursing Home in Berlin for the excellent, loving care given to Verena. They are truly heroes.