Gladys Kornhauser Simon February 27, 1915 – January 21, 2019 Share this obituary Send Flowers View/Sign Guest Book| Send Private Condolences| Send Sympathy Card Gladys Kornhauser Simon Gladys Kornhauser Simon (February 27, 1915- January 21, 2019) was born in Madison WI to parents Alexander Kornhauser and Ethel (Friedlander) Kornhauser. She and her late husband James (Jim) Simon had three daughters, Linda, Margo and Connie. Madison and Green Lake WI were two of her favorite places in the world.
Gladys’s father, Alexander, built and ran a very successful men and women’s clothing store in Madison which burned down when Gladys was eight years old. The family moved several times hoping to start the store anew ending up finally in Buffalo, New York. There she completed her high school education and met and married the love of her life, Jim Simon.
The couple shared 55 wonderful years. They lived in the east for a time before moving to, and raising their children in, Genoa, Illinois and finally DeKalb, Illinois in the 1950s. Our mom Gladys was a very devoted loving wife, mom, grammie and grand-grammie.
She came from an artistic family and showed her creativity in her beautiful afghans, wall-hangings and wall sculptures, by creating a warm and beautiful home for family and friends, and providing cultural opportunities for her children. Gladys was generous with her time, volunteering for the Kishwaukee Hospital and the Oak Crest Retirement Center in DeKalb. She worked as an assistant to the librarian at the DeKalb Public Library, creating wonderful seasonal displays, especially for children, and offering suggestions for book purchases.
She and Jim enjoyed reading to one another and bird-watching. She was a lifelong learner and she and Jim enjoyed several trips to France, Mexico, and the Eastern United States. Gladys was a very caring and beautiful lady, a special person who was loved and will be missed by many.
She is survived by her daughters Linda Simon and her partner Bob Storm) of DeKalb, Margo Simon of Salem, Massachusetts, and Constance “Connie” Helque (and her husband Francis Helque) of Barzan, France; grandsons Eric Helque of New York City, Christophe Helque of Paris, France, Alexandre Helque and his wife Catherine, also of Paris, France. She also leaves behind great-grandchildren Clemence and Jean-Baptiste Helque of Paris, France; a special nephew Paul Simon, cousin Anne Davis (Mike), special friends Jan and Peter Meserve, and Barbara Groves. She is predeceased by her loving husband Jim and her siblings Dorothy, Elizabeth and Richard.
A memorial service for Gladys Simon will be held at the Oakcrest Chapel on February 7 at 4pm, 2944 Greenwood Acres Drive, DeKalb, Illinois. Arrangements were entrusted to: Finch Funeral Home 310 Oak St. DeKalb, IL, 60115 (815) 758-3841.
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