Patricia Ann Simmons

Mom, Patricia Ann (Yuhasz Murphy) Simmons, told stories of her maternal Polish/French Grandparents, Victoria (Gaboin) and Anthony Mastej, who came over from mountainous Poland just before the turn of century. They lived where he (a neat surprise we found during my adulthood, was born Jewish) opened a successful bakery in the early 1900's in one of Detroit's Polish Catholic neighborhoods near St. Hedwig Parish, where their three girls were educated. Unfortunately, he passed while the girls were young, from complications regarding a bet lifting a flour barrel. One of their girls became a Fransiscan nun, certified teacher and RN, Sister Evangeline (Stephanie Mastej), who was second in command at Marycrest Manor Nursing home, which had high standards for elder care. The other, Great Aunt Julia, worked for the telephone company, was very involved in charity organizations, and helped with the care of her nieces and nephews. My mom remembered my Aunt Julia always bringing her treats and shopping for pretty clothes. In their elder years, my Grandmother and Great Aunt Julia moved to Marycrest under Sr.'s great care. Mom's Mom and Dad, Michaline Mastej and Julius Yuhasz (Hungarian/Austrian/Checkslovakian), and settled in Detroit during its heyday. She was the oldest of seven children. Her father would drive her in his Model T so she would drift off to sleep. When she was small, a family friend and physician gifted a piano for her. She loved playing, singing, and dancing. Mom was born during such a time she remembered well the Great Depression and WWII. She remembered helping her Grandmother with their victory garden, and talked about their beautiful vegetable and flower gardens, "little farm" in the city, and rations that sustained their family. She attended Holy Redeemer School, and graduated, Class of 1949, with what would have been considered, by today's standards, honor role efforts, especially in science. She loved chemistry, reading, and writing. She mentioned she wanted to go on to college to study those to become a teacher or a writer, but the funds were low since they were still recovering from the Great Depression, and WWII. Her first job was at Hudson's in the hat department. Her young impressionable self, loved meeting famous people who would come through. She worked for Bell Telephone as an operator as her second job for a short time. She was very close with her father, who was a founding member of the mechanics union for the railroad. She worked for New York Central/Penn Central/Conrail. At this time being a union member, she was offered equal pay, seniority positions, and learned many different parts of the business. She birthed and cared for three children, much of this time as a single parent. Mom was at one time deeply involved in the Jerimiah Project in Detroit around the late 1980's - early 1990's. They were quite successful for the time. They banded together all different churches to combat the growing gang epidemic. A dear friends and neighbor's family home had burnt, and they needed support. She understood the stress of a fire since our house had burned a few years prior. She started a non-profit to support them and other families. She was an active member of the Daughters of Isabella, as regent and vice-regent, both multiple times, holding many fundraisers, and offering other acts of service through the years. She was a member of the Polish Legion of American Veterans Ladies Auxiliary. Holy Cross Guild, served as Eucharistic Minister, and supported many other organizations through the years. At one time, she briefly lived in Colorado, for a change of pace, and worked for the owner or a VP of Blockbuster as a personal assistant. She loved the beauty of the mountains. When she was in her 60s, she purchased a citrus orchard from her Aunt's estate. It was a property she had visited often, and fell in love with. She grew several varieties of delicious oranges, grapefruit, as well as lemons, limes, and tiny bananas, all with organic standards. She sold them and her crafts at the local farmers markets to supplement her retirement. She cared for a homeschooled neighbor, worked the census, temped, and any likely other odd jobs, while supporting local charities. The orchard became a sad memory for her after fighting in court along with other small growers, to save their trees from being destroyed because cancor was found a hundred miles away. Her trees were healthy and thriving, and in one day destroyed by a government decision likely pressured by corporate growers. Surviving the deaths of her two sons, and this day were heavy on her heart. She offered to keep the property for her granddaughter and me, since she considered selling. It had become a burden for her, so I encouraged her to sell it if that was what her heart desired. She sold it, and permanently moved back to MI. During her last three years, she was diagnosed with dementia. Her decline was difficult for her. She did not realize she was declining. In her clearest states, she would sometimes chuck up her challenges as being old. She felt she had lived a good long life with family, dear friends, community service, travel, and different exciting experiences. During one of her clear moments near her passing, she expressed her gratitude, love, and hugs for her care. Thank you for reading, and sharing in the dynamic spirit that was my Mother. If you knew her, please feel free to share stories here. She is survived by her daughter, granddaughter, grandson, sister-in-law, daughter-in-law, ten nieces and nephews and their families, and friends