Joanna Simms, 83, wife of the late Arnold Simms, died in Provincetown on January 17, 2018 while in residence at the Wellness Center at Seashore Point.
Joanna came to Provincetown in 2015 in the final years of her life to receive skilled nursing care at Seashore Point, which also allowed her to live in close proximity to her daughter Julie, and daughter-in-law, Myra Slotnick, who are year-round residents of town.
Born in 1934 in Salem, Massachusetts, she was the daughter of the late William and Alice Ladyszewski. Joanna grew up in Salem and ultimately resided for more than forty years in Dover, Delaware where Arnold was stationed at Dover Air Force Base.
After raising five children to school age, Joanna returned to college to earn degrees in Art and Education and was a high school art and photography teacher in Delaware for more than twenty years at Caesar Rodney Senior High School. During her summer vacations and following her retirement she traveled to many countries photographing the cultural landscapes of Italy, Mexico, England, Germany, Greece, France and Russia. Joanna also enjoyed golfing with her husband. Their favorite golf course was the Raven Golf Club at Snowshoe Mountain in West Virginia.
Joanna is survived by three daughters and two sons: Karen Simms and her husband Thomas Quarles, residing in Brookline, New Hampshire; Ronald Simms and his wife Terry, residing in New Market, Maryland; Julie Simms and her spouse, Myra Slotnick, residing in Provincetown, Massachusetts; Rebecca Simms Del Fabbro and her husband Jorge, residing in Newark, Delaware, and Robert Simms and his wife Elizabeth, residing in Richmond, Virginia.
Joanna is also survived by her sister Christine Ladyszewski and her spouse Louise O’Connor of Ogunquit, Maine, and her brother Michael Ladd and his wife Barbara of Danvers, Massachusetts, as well as nine grandchildren: Devin, Christopher, Jessica, Noah, Eleanor, Hayley, Oliver, Roman and Alena, as well as five great grandchildren: Madelyn, Troydon, Riley, Lydiana and Evander.
A celebration of Joanna’s life will take place in the coming months in Salem, Massachusetts at a date and time to be announced.
Donations, in lieu of flowers, may be made to the National Audubon Society, 1200 18th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036.