Erna Reichstein Simon, 87, of Arden, passed away Saturday, July 26, 2014 at St. Joseph's Hospital in Asheville, NC surrounded by her loving family. Erna was born March 19, 1927, in Haynau, Germany, and was one of four children of Elisabeth Elly Mandler and Wilhelm Heinrich Reichstein.
Erna grew up in Germany, and met Fred Simon in Gӧppingen, Germany where they married on July 26, 1947. In 1952 they came to the USA to Chicago, Illinois and had their daughter, Pamela in 1955 and their son, Peter in 1957. Erna became a US citizen in 1964, and spent the early years of her children’s childhood as a homemaker, enjoying being a mother before working different part-time jobs in Chicago. Erna and Fred moved to Arden, NC after their retirement in 1987, and she was a devoted wife to Fred for 67 years.
In 1988, Erna’s first grandchild, Dawn Ashley Simon, was born, followed by Danielle Nicole Card in 1989, and Charles Peter Simon in 1992. Her grandchildren brought her much joy and she loved spending time with them.
Erna was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt, and was an accomplished seamstress, gardener, knitter, and crocheter, and enjoyed music and reading. She was a wonderful cook and baker, especially with European pastries, and loved spending time with her family and friends. Erna also loved the ocean and the beach, traveling to visit family and friends around the US and Germany, and loved the flora and fauna of the earth. Erna is a courageous and gentle spirit, and will be fondly remembered by many for her love, kindness, and friendship, her positive outlook, her readiness to always help others, and her sweet smile and disposition.
She is survived by her husband Fred Simon of Arden, daughter Pamela Card and granddaughter Danielle Card of Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, and her son Peter Simon, granddaughter Dawn Simon and grandson Charles Simon of Davie, Florida, along with her brother Karl Heinz Reichstein of Gӧppingen, Germany, and her sister Hannelore Topol and her husband Jon Topol of Orem, Utah. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews, and many loving friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, her older sister Hildegard Moser, and son-in-law William Card.
A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held at Unity Center in Mills River, NC on August 23, 2014 at 1 pm. The family will receive friends at a reception following the service. Online condolences and comments may be made at erna-simon.forevermissed.com
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to Feed the Children, Covenant House, and the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.