Rochelle (Champagne) Simmons, age 73, formerly of Dartmouth, passed away Sunday, October 6, 2013 at the Royal of Fairhaven. She was the wife of the late Ernest T. Simmons.
Born in New Bedford, she was the daughter of the late Roger and Florence (Livsey) Champagne, she resided in Dartmouth most of her life.
Rochelle was a graduate of Dartmouth High School Class of 1956. She received her Bachelor’s Degree from Stonehill College and her Master’s Degree from the University of Rhode Island. She worked as an English teacher at Roosevelt Junior High School and was the librarian at Keith Junior High School. She was also an antique dealer at the New Bedford Antique’s Market. Rochelle was skilled at arts and crafts and was known for her cake decorating, dried and silk flower arrangements, jewelry and doll making, doll houses and collection of antique dolls. She faithfully attended a doll class in Sandwich, MA.
Survivors include her daughter Catherine DeMatos of Mattapoisett; her son Peter Simmons and his wife Brenda of Dartmouth; her daughter Mary Anne Rose and her husband Robert of Mattapoisett; 6 grandchildren, Amy Caswell and her husband Gregory of Fairhaven; Sarah Kovacs and her husband Alexander of Lake Balboa, CA; Matthew Simmons of Brighton, MA; Katelyn Simmons of Charlotte, NC; Hannah Rose and Olivia Rose, both of Mattapoisett; 1 great-grandchild Charlotte Caswell of Fairhaven; 1 brother, Michael Champagne and his wife Rea Rosno of Brooklyn, NY; and many nieces and nephews. She was the sister of the late Roger Champagne.
Her funeral will be held Wednesday, October 9, 2013 at 9 am at the Waring-Sullivan Home of Memorial Tribute at Dartmouth, 230 Russells Mills Road, Dartmouth, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10am at St. Julie Billiart Parish, 494 Slocum Road, North Dartmouth. Burial to follow in St. John’s Cemetery. Visiting Hours will be held Tuesday from 6-8pm. For tributes and directions please visit our website at www.waring-sullivan.com.