Mrs. Susie Bonfini Simko

Susie Bonfini Simko died at age 82 on June 16, 2013 in Altamonte Springs, Florida. Born September 21, 1930 in Bellaire, Ohio to Pietro and Giacinta Bonfini, Susie attended Bellaire High School (Class of 1948). After graduation, Susie was employed as a legal secretary. She was married to Andrew Michael "Andy" Simko (also of Bellaire, Ohio) the day after his graduation from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York in 1953. In the first years of their marriage, Susie accompanied Andy to military posts in Austria, Germany and Italy where she quickly learned the joys and challenges of being an Army wife. Susie and Andy welcomed two daughters during their time in Europe, the first, Debra, born in Austria in 1955 and the second, Andrea, born in Germany in 1956. Returning to the US in 1957, Susie and Andy lived in Ft. Benning, Georgia, Charlottesville,Virginia, Sandia Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico (where their third daughter, Stephanie was born in 1961), Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas, Monterey, California, and McLean, Virginia. They traveled the world together for the Army, enjoyed dancing and entertaining and raising their three children. Susie, an accomplished seamstress, took fashion design courses in Washington, D.C. and also attended George Mason University. Susie also worked at the Institute for Defense Analysis (IDA), a classified government library. After her husband, Andy, was killed in Vietnam in 1970, Susie devoted her time to raising her three girls. In her later years, Susie worked at the Orlando Naval Training Center Hospital in Orlando, Florida. Susie was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Andy, her parents Pietro and Giacinta Bonfini, her sisters Josephine Musci, Mary Mills, and Flora Wozniak, her brother Emilio Bonfini and her niece, Cindy Wozniak Hart. Susie is survived by her daughters, Debra Simko Desjardins of Altamonte Springs, Florida, Andrea Simko Ellinor of Tallahassee, Florida and Stephanie Simko Weaver of Orlando, Florida, and grandsons Andrew Simko Ellinor and Spencer Ryan Ellinor both of Gainesville, Florida. She is also survived by seven nieces, Delores Mills Kolakowski, Anita Mills Boyd, Sheila Mills Smith, Diana Wozniak Baldi, Patricia Bonfini Beattie, Paula Bonfini VanFossen and Susan Bonfini Geier and six nephews, Luther J. Mills, III, Michael J. Bonfini, Michael J. Wozniak, Joseph M. Wozniak, Peter J. Musci and Peter A. Bonfini. A memorial service will be held at 11 am on July 20th at DeGusipe Funeral Home (9001 N Orlando Avenue, Maitland, Florida). Reception to follow from 12:00 Noon - 2:00 p.m. A funeral will be held at a later date at the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York where Susie's ashes will be inurned with her husband, Andy. Memorial donations may be made to the National Military Family Association at http://www.militaryfamily.org/about-us/ or the Fisher House at http://www.fisherhouse.org/donate/. To share memories, photos and condolences, please visit http://www.degusipefuneralhome.com/obituaries/Susie-Simko. Arrangements are entrusted to DeGusipe Funeral Home & Crematory, 9001 N. Orlando Avenue, Maitland, Florida 32751. (407) 695-CARE(2273).

Mrs. Susie Bonfini Simko

September 21, 1930 - June 16, 2013