Manisa Eileen Simoes

Manisa Eileen Simoes, 17, of Mile Hill Road South, cherished daughter of Lisa (Dean) and Manuel Simoes, Jr, died October 5 at her home.

Manisa was born in Danbury on October 25, 1983. She attended Newtown High School, graduating in 2001. Manisa was honored by Newtown High School with the “Profiles in Courage” award for her commitment to diversity issues. She was a full-time student at Western Connecticut State University in Danbury where she was studying to become a teacher. Manisa saw through to the heart of each person she met, and reflected back the good she found there.

Manisa’s radiant smile and caring spirit will be held in the memory of her parents of Newtown; her brother, Manuel Simoes, III, of Danbury; her paternal grandparents, Manuel, Sr, and Elvira Simoes of Danbury; her maternal grandmother, Gloria Marshall and her husband, Charles of Wolcott; her maternal grandfather, Richard Dean and his wife, Gail, of Sebastian, Fla.; her uncles, Arthur Simoes and his wife, Leslie, of Hartford, Richard Dean of Wolcott, and Kenneth Dean of Bethlehem; her aunts, Lydia Goldarbit and husband, Allen, of Lebanon, Carolinda Simoes-Velt and her husband, Victor, of New Haven, Darlene Colon of Danbury, Donna Dean of Wolcott, Doreen Dean of Oxford, and Sharon Ballwig of Wolcott, as well as countless other loving and adoring relatives and friends.

A funeral was held October 11 at Church of The Epiphany in Southbury. Burial followed at St Peter Cemetery in Danbury.

The Southbury Funeral Home of Munson-Lovetere, 235 Main Street North, Routes 6 and 67 in Southbury, was in charge of arrangements.

Friends are asked to contribute to The Manisa Simoes Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Noreen Darigo, 69 Mile Hill Road South, Newtown, CT 06470.

The Newtown Bee         October 12, 2001