Marguerite H. (Simmons) Stanton

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Marguerite Stanton Obituary

Marguerite H. (Simmons) Stanton, 92, of 66 School St., Westerly, died Monday, Oct. 20, 2008, at The Westerly Hospital. She was the wife of the late Alden Peabody Stanton.
Born in Leicester, Mass., on Feb. 25, 1916, a daughter of the late William and Clarissa (Dixon) Simmons, Marguerite grew up in Westerly where she graduated from Westerly High School and was a member of the girls' basketball team. She lived in Mystic from 1951 to 1967, moving back to Westerly.
She was a member of the Christ Episcopal Church in Westerly, and she spent many summers at Weekapaug Beach with her family and friends.
Marguerite will be sadly missed by her son and daughter, Paul Stanton of Huntington Beach, Calif., and Jane Stanton of New Haven, Conn.; her four grandchildren; and her three great-grandchildren
Besides her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by a son, Peter Stanton; two sisters, Gloria Davis and Eileen Blackmer; and three brothers, William, Geoffrey and Benjamin Simmons.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend a funeral service Friday at 11 a.m. in Christ Episcopal Church, Elm Street, Westerly. Burial will follow in River Bend Cemetery, Beach Street, Westerly. Visiting hours are respectfully omitted
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Home & Hospice Care of RI, 169 George St., Pawtucket, RI 02860
For online condolences and shared memory books, visit www.buckler-johnston.com,

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Westerly Sun on Oct. 22, 2008.

Memories and Condolences
for Marguerite Stanton

12 Entries

Rebecca Venarchick (Simmons)

November 4, 2008

Every Christmas I tuck one of the larger school pictures of Alex into Aunt Gete’s Christmas card. She looked forward to receiving them and I knew she would display it on her refrigerator all year until she received the next one. Alex’s school pictures arrived today and it was a gut-wrenching reminder that she is gone; that I won’t be sending her this year’s picture; that I won’t have a nice chat to look forward to on February 26th, her next birthday.

Aunt Gete was a light in my life that I cannot describe. She comforted me in ways she did not even realize. After I lost my dad, whenever I saw Gete, I saw dad. To me the resemblance was twin-like. Sometimes it was a simple mannerism that reminded me, other times it was a look in her eye. She had a special grace and elegance about her and I know she profoundly influence dad, as the story has it that he was raised by his sisters.

I, too, remember so fondly the August days at the beach in Rhode Island, but they are fuzzy to me as I was the littlest cousin. I remember a beautifully colored swim-suit and adorable bathing caps. Aunt Gete would go in the water with me, probably because the big kids had left me behind. She would only go as far as I was comfortable. I remember a lot of smiles, stories and laughs.

Soon after dad died, Gete and Scuppy enjoyed at least a couple of winters in our Naples home. I know of one spring when I invaded with a college roommate and stayed for about a week. I’m sure we came in at all hours, stayed up late and made a mess in the kitchen. Gete and Scuppy treated us like welcomed house guests and never let us know that we were a pain in the you-know-what! We all went to the beach together a number of times during that visit ~ It was a special time for me and I’ll never forget it.

Aunt Gete comforted my broken heart and also shared in my 2 biggest joys – Lance and Alex. She loved Lance and never missed an opportunity to let me know how special he is. She was like another grandmother to Alex; sending him cards, cute trinkets and gifts out of the blue. One favorite was the “Y2K” bug, a stuffed animal that would sound like shattered glass when you dropped it on the floor. This, she happened to bring on one of her last visits to Florida. She just thought it was so funny – I can still remember her telling the story of finding it in the store and laughing at its whacky sound!

There were other special things as well; things that represented a part of her ~ a piece of cloisonné or a beautiful glass ball ornament ~ all things that remind me of her sense of style and sophistication.

In a few weeks, we will decorate for Christmas and I will unwrap from the tissue paper one of those special mementoes that she sent Alex. Knowing that her loving hands once touched this precious ornament will give me comfort. Remembering how she touched my heart and my life helps me to say good-bye, but only for now.

jim & denise volpe

November 1, 2008

The loss of someone so close is difficult to bear. We share your grief.

Anne Smith

October 30, 2008

Our dear Aunt Gete was a bright light in this world. How fondly I remember those days on the beach with all the aunts and uncles and cousins! The adults would sit in their chairs chatting away while we younger folks rode the waves on canvas rafts. Sometimes the roar of the surf was not too loud to prevent us from hearing their laughter punctuating boisterous storytelling and good-natured teasing. It was all good medicine for the soul! Aunt Gete was always there in the midst of it, lighting up the crowd with her joy. She loved beautiful things, and was always so generous to us and to our kids. I will always remember how she loved cloisinne and I treasure the little bowl she sent me on my birthday one year. I will miss her but I celebrate her life. Goodbye for now, dear one.

Mary H. Simmons

October 27, 2008

GETE

I have loved her for fifty-one years. It was back in 1957. Bill had asked me to marry him. He took me to Westerly to meet his family, where his mother, Gloria and family, Ben and family, Eileen and family, Gete and family and Geoff and family all welcomed me warmly and lovingly. Gete and I became fast friends from that moment on. I am certain that she loved me all these years, as I have loved her. Our family vacations at the Misquamicut Beach were simply wonderful. Family members would begin arriving in the late morning, put their lunches in the cottage refrigerator, and then head out the front door to a day of relaxation and fellowship on the beach. Some days there could be as many as thirty of us together there. Gete and family rarely missed a day. There was always a special buzz of excitement when they arrived.

Over all these years, Gete always remembered each of us at Christmas and birthdays with cards and wonderful gifts. Today I look around my home and am reminded of her and her impeccable good taste by pieces of Quimper, cloisonne, an exquisite cut crystal dinner bell, and a precious hand-crafted wooden duck with a name tag around its neck that says, “My name is Mary”. She told me that when she saw it, she simply had to get it for me. She wished she could have found one with a “My name is Gete” name tag. She was always tanned and chicly dressed. She and Gloria introduced me to Lily Pulitzer.

She faced life’s hardships bravely. She refused to allow blindness to sideline her. I visited her two years ago, and am still amazed at the way she directed me as I drove the two of us around Westerly and environs—“Be in the left lane, and two signals down, turn left.” She was an inspiration!

I shall be forever grateful that she and I had a wonderful long telephone conversation just a day or two before her fatal illness struck. As always, she was bright, cheerful and had many interesting things to talk about. I’m also grateful that Jane, Paul and Margie, Joan, her children and grandchildren, and Gete’s nieces, nephews and friends had an opportunity to visit her at hospice to let her know how much she was loved.

Peter and Jane never missed a Saturday visit with Gete, taking care of medications, shopping, and business matters. When Peter had to leave us, Joan stepped in and took over his part. Paul and Margie never missed calling on Sunday. I hope they each can take comfort in knowing they did everything they possibly could for their mother. My prayers are with each of them.

I deeply grieve her passing. I miss her so much, and will treasure the friendship she and I had forever.

Holly (Simmons) Wilson

October 27, 2008

Oh how Aunt Gete colored our lives with sights and sounds that bring a smile to my face and a warming love around my heart. I like to think back, picturing her over the years. So many snapshots to treasure… each one is similar—her beauty and spark a constant. Wait for the green mustang convertible to roll down the sand driveway to the cottage. Then all at once hear gales of laughter and see a bright floral shift and lipstick to match—her eyes and smile more brilliant than either. Chartreuse sandals on tanned feet. And her hands. Her busy hands were full of curiosity and wisdom and spoke of being unafraid, creative, and generous. I see them examining a rosy, ripe nectarine offered up on the beach. She had the knack for picking those and teaching me how to enjoy the treasure to its fullest amidst the salt air, sand and sun. She was a wonderful woman to look up to. Her eye for beauty, her love of life, and her unassuming grace have made my life so rich and sweet, like a nectarine on the beach. Nothing will ever replace the joy and love that Aunt Gete brought to our lives. She is close in my heart forever.

Gary Poe

October 25, 2008

Dear Jane,
Though on the "other" coast...know that my thoughts are with you.
Please accept my sincerest sympathies. We'll talk soon.

Heidi & Andy Schilke & Family

October 24, 2008

We knew Gete from Fenway Beach in Weekapaug. Our deepest sympathies to you and your family during the days and months ahead. Gete was a special "lady" to all.

John Thornberg

October 23, 2008

Dear Jane, I am so sorry to hear of your loss. If you lived on Lord's Point in the 70's, know that you saved my life and your mother would be so proud. Please e-mail me if you be the one, you and and your family are in my heart and prayers.

John Smith

David Blackmer

October 22, 2008

My memories of Aunt Gete go back to before Jane was born.
Those were happy memories of which I will cherish. She was a strong beautiful woman who made the best out of the life God gave her. Our prayers and love are with the family.

Love
Dave and Eileen Blackmer

Dexter Simmons

October 22, 2008

Our deepest condolences to the entire family, our cousins Paul and Jane and dear friends who loved and cherished the wonderful spirit of our Aunt Gete. Everyone loved her. When Aunt Gete's brother, my father Ben, died she and her daughter Jane volunteered to take me (I was just 11 years old) to the beach during the summer months so that my mother could work without worrying about me. She always treated me with the utmost kindness. In the past few years she treated my son, Harrison, with same kindness and generosity that she always showed me. She gave Harrison toys and books at each visit and showed him the love and cheery disposition that were her hallmark. She will be dearly missed by all.

Davis

October 22, 2008

Stanton family

My deep condolence for your loss. May God promise found at Matthew 6:9,10 be of comfort to you at this time.

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