Submitted by: Dan Rich

Natalina Simeri
Feb. 25, 1914 - Dec. 13, 2002

South Bend Tribune 12/16/2002

Our mother, Natalina "Natalie" Simeri, passed away peacefully with us, her children, at her side at 8 p.m. on Friday evening, Dec. 13, 2002. Mama was born in Gioiosa Ionica, Province of Reggio Calabria, Italy, to Nicola and Maria Teresa (Iemma) Linarello.

On June 21, 1936, she married our father, Vincent J. Simeri in St. Joseph's Catholic Church in South Bend, Ind. We, her four children, Joseph (Kathleen) Simeri, Teresa (Sam) Jermano, Beverly (Randall) Jennings and Jane (Frank Gorczyca) Simeri survive, and so do her five cherished grandchildren, Elisabeth Simeri, James (Heidi) Simeri, Susanne Simeri, Jennifer Jermano and Stephen Gorczyca, and so do many nieces, nephews, great, great great and great great great nieces and nephews.

Mama was preceded in death by her parents; and by our father Vincent; two brothers, Rocco Linarello and Giorgio Nicola Linarello; and three sisters, Josephine Ferraro, Carmella Ferraro and Rosa Simeri.

Mama came to the United States in 1930 with her parents and her youngest brother, Rocco. Undaunted, without employment, and faced with the challenge of learning a new language, she brought with her an unwavering determination for a better life. Her family first settled in South Bend, but then moved to Brooklyn, N.Y.

In Brooklyn, Mama's first job was hand-knitting tams. She had to knit seven each day to meet her employers quota to keep her job. She did it! The family then returned to South Bend. There Mama began working at Wyman's Department Store as a presser for the window displays. She quickly advanced to the alteration department, learning these skills by observing others and then teaching herself. She became an accomplished seamstress, ultimately acquiring many private clients, most of whom became her close friends.

Never having just one job, Mama and Dad operated a small family grocery store, S&S Grocery on Hill Street in South Bend for many years. We lived in the back of the store. Credit was willingly extended to the working families in the neighborhood by hand notation in the little black book. In return, payment was faithfully made by the customers each week on payday.

After selling the grocery store, Mama and Dad opened Simeri's Café at the bottom of the hill on Hill Street. Mama managed the kitchen and prepared delicious food, including her incomparable meatballs. She left four of those meatballs in her freezer; we guess one for each of us.

God blessed Mama with many talents, among them a beautiful singing voice. But mostly Mama loved people. She was friend and confidante to so many. Her friends are persons of all cultures and origins, from the Philippines, to Japan, to Canada, to Australia, and whether princes or paupers, all were treated with the same respect.

Above all else, Mamas life was her family. She governed us, never raising her voice in anger, but simply giving us "the look," and we knew what she meant. We are blessed to have had her for our mother, and we willingly shared her legacy of love, kindness and generosity with all who were privileged to know her.