• 12th child of George and Elizabeth Kandra Sima

Those we love remain with us
For love itself lives on,
And cherished memories never fade
Because a loved one's gone.
Those we love can never be
More than a thought apart,
For as long as there is memory,
They'll live on in the heart.

Author Unknown

»♱« OBITUARY »♱«

Francis A. Shimo, 87, of the Greenwood section of Moosic, died Sunday morning at the inpatient unit of VNA Hospice at Geisinger Community Medical Center. His beloved wife of 27 years, the former Mary Dorothy Butler, died Jan. 3, 1975.

Born in Taylor, he was the last living child of 12 born to George and Elizabeth Kandra Shimo and was a 1942 graduate of Taylor High School. Francis proudly served our country during World War II with the Navy and attained the rank of machinist mate. During this time, he received the European Theater Ribbon, the American Theater Ribbon and the Victory Medal. For many years, he worked for Consolidated Molded Products and retired from the Riverside School District as head of buses and maintenance. He was a former parishioner of St. Mary of Czestochowa Church, Moosic, and its Holy Name Society and was a parishioner of Divine Mercy Parish. His puppies, Scruffy and Corky Tree Toe, brought him much comfort the last few years of his life. Throughout the years, he loved to bowl; golf, play poker and go to the casinos but spending time with family brought him the most joy.

The family would like to express its deepest gratitude to Doctors Wayne Weston, Kevin Olson and Gary Cassone and to Traditional Hospice, especially Patty and Kathy, who were his nurses, VNA Hospice and to Archangel Adult Day Care, for their compassion, understanding and care they gave their father.

Also surviving are eight children, Jack and wife, Donna, Scranton; Peggy Evanitsky and husband, Tom, Old Forge; Betty Shimo, Port Crane, N.Y.; James, who was his caretaker, and wife, Tina, Moosic; Patrick P. and wife, Pamela, Jermyn; Joan Marie Klein and husband, David, Scranton; Frank and wife, Carol, Scranton; and Mary Rose Daniels and husband, Paul, Carbondale; 16 grandchildren, Amy and Brian Shimo, Michellle Donovan, TJ and Mark Evanitsky, Jessica Boynton, Caron Shimo, Mary Dorothy Luchansky, Brandon, Christian and Jillian Shimo, Jacob Klein, Frankie and Nicholas Shimo, Paul and Caitlyn Daniels; eight great-grandchildren, Molly Donovan, Rui, William and Anthony Evanitsky, Kymberlee Shimo, Veronica Butler, Madlyn Boynton and Bronson Garrett Luchansky; many nieces and nephews.

The funeral will be Thursday at 9:45 a.m. from the Semian Funeral Home, 704 Union St., Taylor, followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 in Divine Mercy Parish, 312 Davis St., by the Rev. Francis Pauselli, pastor. Interment with military honors will be in St. Mary Czesto­chowa Cemetery, Moosic.

Friends may call Wednesday, 4 to 8 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the donor's hospice choice. Visit www.semiancares.com to share memories or extend condolences.

SOURCE: Scranton Times, Scranton, PA

DATE PUBLISHED/PAGE NO: Monday, December 17, 2012

• Date of Burial: Thursday, December 20, 2012