BARBARA KARNS SIMONSON

1946 - 2025

SIMONSON, Barbara Karns Barbara, the beloved wife of James Simonson, died on October 26, 2025, in Lexington, MA, after a long period of enduring Alzheimer's disease. Barbara was born May 24,1946, in Hornell, NY, the daughter of Milton and May Karns; and sibling to James, Nancy, Roger and Bonnie. After a youth spent in upstate New York, she graduated from Johnson City High in 1964. She graduated from Charles S. Wilson Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in Johnson City, NY, in 1967, as a Board-Certified Registered Nurse. She received her B.A. in Sociology Magna Cum Laude from the University of Massachusetts Boston, MA in 1978. Barbara loved gerontology, running, skiing, tennis, summering in Rhode Island, hiking, her pets, gardening, baking, family, and friends. She was known for her kindness, independent spirit, generosity, loyalty, intelligence, curiosity, competitiveness, dedication to her work and senses of freedom and humor. Barbara loved her work as a cardiology nurse at Mount Auburn Hospital from 1970 to 2013. Barbara was predeceased by her parents and siblings: May A. Karns, Milton W. Karns, Roger D. Karns and James M. Karns. She is survived by her sisters, Nancy Karns and Bonnie Kelly; and several well-loved nieces and nephews. Her Celebration of a Life well-lived will be at Crawford United Methodist Church, at 2pm, on Thursday, November 13, 2025, at 34 Dix Street, Winchester, MA. In lieu of flowers, we are suggesting donations in her name to either Crawford United Methodist Church, Winchester, MA or the Alzheimer's Association, 320 Nevada Street, Suite 201, Newton, MA 02460. Both were very important to Barbara and extremely helpful in her care over many years.

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