Faye Elizabeth Simel

GREENSBORO FAYE ELIZABETH Simel, 78, a long-time Greensboro resident and native of Leaksville, died on October 10, 2014. Faye will be remembered for her unreserved laughter, her kindness, and her beauty, both inside and out. She was the homecoming queen of Tri-City High School, played basketball for the UNC-G Spartans, and was voted "Sweetheart" of Sigma Phi Epsilon at Wake Forest University. Faye was a long-time exercise coach at the Greensboro Y.M.C.A. and a long-time volunteer for Meals on Wheels. As a young woman, Simel was one of the first female disc jockeys in North Carolina. There is no doubt that Simel's love of music rubbed off on her son, Mark, in a major way. Some of his earliest most memorable musical moments occurred when he was with her--from watching her singing and dancing through the house to "Beautiful Balloon" by the Fifth Dimension to riding down the road with all the windows down listening to Diana Ross, Dionne Warwick, and The Funk Brothers cranking out one Motown hit after another. She and Mark's favorite place to go in the 60's and 70's was the Boar & Castle, a curb service restaurant in Greensboro known as one of the "in spots" at the time. Mark remembers that It was always a special place to be with her.Faye enjoyed playing golf at Starmount Forest Country Club with her "favorite foursome"--her husband, the late Dr. Paul Simel, her son, Mark, and her grandson, Raffi. Faye also enjoyed accompanying her husband when Dr. Simel served as a faculty member of Orbis, a nonprofit organization that works in developing countries to prevent and treat blindness through training, public health education, and improved access to quality eye care. In a specially designed and converted DC-10 aircraft--the world's only airborne ophthalmic training facility--Faye's role was that of "official photographer." Faye and Paul enjoyed traveling annually to Hilton Head with their children and grandchildren, where she served her role selflessly as "Official Snack Specialist" during the annual Simel Family Softball Competition. She and Paul cruised around the Caribbean, and vacationed annually in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Simel was preceded in death by her parents, George and Madeline Holland, brother, Jerry Holland (of Eden), and husband of 46 years, Dr. Paul Simel. She is survived by her children, Mark Pace (Jane Pace) of Clemmons, David Simel, M.D. (Joanne Piscitalli, M.D.) of Durham, Bruce Simel (Kristal Simel) of New Bern, and Dana Simel, Ph.D. (Gerald Royston) of Frederick, Maryland. She is also survived by her six grandchildren: Lauren Simel Lewis, M.D. (John Lewis, M.D.) of Durham, Michael Simel (Jessica Abramson) of Alexandria, Virginia, Raffi Simel of Greensboro, Drew Simel of Dallas, Brian Simel of Alexandria, and Dylan Simel of Chapel Hill; great-granddaughter Claire Catherine Lewis of Durham, sister-in-law Martha Holland, brother-in-law Stuart Simel (Caryl Shorin) of Great Neck, niece Nancy Simel (Warren Horowitz) of Anchorage, Alaska, and nephews Jerry Holland (Rhonda) of Eden, Gary Simel (Kathie Neilsen) of Cushing, Maine, and Peter Simel of New York, New York. Memorial gifts may be sent to Temple Emanuel of Greensboro, The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke University Medical Center, and Hospice and Palliative Care of Greensboro.Faye's funeral will be held at Temple Emanuel in Greensboro at 11 a.m. on Monday, October 13, 2014.Forbis and Dick Guilford Chapel is serving the family of Mrs. Simel. Online condolences may be offered at www.forbisanddick.com.