HUDSON FALLS – Peggy Kay (Day) Simpson, 91, slipped softly away, in the comfort of her home in the early hours of December 30, 2023.
Born in Glens Falls on July 13, 1932, the only offspring of Ernest and Helene (Clark) Day. Peggy had an idyllic childhood filled with love, skating, dancing, and playing with cousins Marshall and Jay (Skip) Stone. Surrogate brothers to her, the three remained close, until she was predeceased by each.
Love was not the only thing in abundance in Peggy’s childhood heart and home. She also enjoyed, and soon adopted her mother’s passion and efficiency in filling their house with the smells and tastes of delicious home baked goods. That passion, combined with her work ethic led from school days to a job at a candy store, and later behind the counter in her mother and father’s business in West Glens Falls. They leased Crannell’s Dairy Bar, which featured food cooked by her mother, and ice cream made by her father. Affable and accommodating, Peggy helped make it a place to which customers returned, and she enjoyed the demanding pace of breakfast, lunch, and dinner service.
In the early 50’s, a chance meeting with friends introduced her to Fred Simpson. Two years her junior, and charming, they shared a birthday, and soon the dream of a life together, raising their own family. Fred and Peggy married on June 20, 1954. She continued working at the Dairy Bar until the birth of their third child, at which point all her energies were devoted to providing and caring for her family. Following the death of her father in 1969, Peggy’s care was extended to include her mother. By 1971, all were living in their new home at 32 Elm Street in Hudson Falls where Peggy’s loving care kept her mother, until her passing in 1996.
By all accounts, Peggy could work circles around most people. So, through losses of beloved friends and relatives, the constant in her life was her work ethic. When Peggy wasn’t cleaning, baking, nursing someone’s physical or emotional wounds, or feeding someone, she did crosswords and cryptograms to keep her mind sharp.
A consummate multi-tasker, her hours spent watching TV found her hands in constant motion crocheting beautifully intricate freehand blankets, which were then gifted to family, friends, and children she would never meet yet to whom she could provide comfort.
Over the years, Peggy donated a few shy of 300 child-sized lap blankets to Shriners Children’s Hospital in Springfield MA. Children were welcomed to their temporary rooms by her love in the form of blankets, which they could take home after their stay. In 2017, an article written by Kathy Dede about Peggy’s blanket donations was published in the Glens Falls Chronicle newspaper. This proved to be a great source of pride for Peggy. However, love, not pride, was the force motivating her hands.
Love freely given has a way of returning. In Peggy’s later years, the love she extended in caring for her own mother was returned to her by her son Ernie, along with the help of her daughter Linda, and long-distance support from daughter Susan. A stroke in Peggy’s 90th year forced her work ethic to shift, as strokes have a way of making things once taken for granted, suddenly impossible, without the help of others.
Peggy’s work while in the hospital, and during her rehab stay, was focused on regaining as much independence as possible. Ernie provided selfless air cover, and muscular support in her battle to get back to and remain in her own home. More than anything else in the world, that was where Peggy wanted to be. She planned to get back to crocheting, cooking, doing dishes and housework. Unfortunately, time had other plans, but her grace and sense of humor remained intact. In between apologizing for her inability, while Ernie and Linda helped her get ready for bed one night, she said “It’s a good thing I never beat you…”. Laughter helped the three of them through the day-to-day changes, as her end eased closer. Ernie worked patiently on little sleep, until Peggy’s hands finally rested, as he completed the circle she’d once begun, in caring for her own mother.
The family is eternally grateful to Ernie for the personal sacrifices and 24/7 care given to Peggy which extended the years everyone was able to have with her.
In addition to her parents, Peggy was predeceased by her husband of 53 years, Fred; her sisters in law, Constance (Charles Robinson) and Dorothy Burch; her beloved cousins Marshall, Jay, and Ronald Stone; and many other relatives, friends, and neighbors, all of whom Peggy missed dearly, and spoke of often.
Peggy is survived by her three children, Susan (Myron) Klos of Wevertown, Linda Abare and grandson Cody of Fort Edward, and Ernest Simpson of Hudson Falls. She is also survived by her cousin Mary (Bob) Hunsdon of Colorado and cousins Joseph (Tony Fernandez) Swenarton and Tom (Jan) Swenarton both of Florida; several nieces, nephews, and many supportive friends she loved as her own and would have happily adopted, if possible, including Jim Alden, Donna Bourgault, Nancy McDermott, and Tom Ellis.
Near the end of Peggy’s life, the family feels blessed to have had visiting nurses from HCR who were very helpful and comforting. At the end, it was Hilary and Aimee from Hudson Headwaters Homeward Bound Program that made it possible for her to be completely free from pain and anxiety so she could get the rest she deserved and eventually pass away in peace in her own home. Near the end that was all she wanted, and the family is truly grateful to them for making that possible.
Peggy’s family would also like to thank the staff of Glens Falls Hospital and aides Frank, Tony, Alyssa, Shay, and Irma at Slate Valley Center for their tender care. Peggy missed and spoke of each of them, right to the end.
Her family also wishes to thank the following special people, Al and Donna (Bourgault) Nielson, Kim (Preston) Kirby, Nancy McDermott and her children; Kim Skol, Tom Ellis and Tom Robinson for their love, generosity, day and night lift assists, home repairs, medical supplies and prescriptions, and special treats like warm donuts retrieved and delivered, and to the special “Egg Fairies” Kim Skol and Kim Kirby.
A special thanks to Peggy’s wonderful neighbors, Ray and Kathy Filipek, Alex Ramos, Benjamin Byrne, and Elizabeth (Krom) Ramos for their love over the years and taking it upon themselves to do the yard work, and snow shoveling which allowed easy access for ambulances. All of this was a huge relief to Ernie, as he cared for their mom.
A celebration of Peggy’s life will be held in the spring.
In lieu of flowers, Peggy’s family asks that you donate to a local soup kitchen or simply feed someone you love. Their mom lived for that.
