Norwood News has been made aware of the sad death of Mrs. Grace Siemer, a longtime Bronx resident, treasurer of the 52nd Precinct Community Council, and active member of Bedford Mosholu Community Association.

 

In a message posted to social media, president of the council, Brenda Caldwell-Paris, said in part, “It has taken me a while to get myself together to place this post. I know and realize that God knows, sees all, and in the end, he does what’s best. With my deepest, sincere sorrow, I must share with you the passing of an amazing woman, a loyal community activist, our dear friend and council member, Mrs. Grace Siemer. Grace was called home to glory.” It was later confirmed that Siemer died on Sunday, Nov. 6.

 

Caldwell-Paris went on to say how the council were blessed to have had Siemer for over 20 years “in full active duty until the end.” She added, “As a community, we all have, in many different ways, been touched by such a wonderful woman as Grace, and might have had the opportunity to [have heard] all her awesome Bronx stories.”

 

Caldwell-Paris continued, “I am going to miss my dear friend, Grace, and I am grateful she was a part of my life.” The council president also said she was thankful Siemer was no longer suffering, adding that she had had a tough past year since the recent death of her husband, Ed Siemer.

 

Caldwell-Paris added that she was overjoyed, nonetheless, that her friend was with her beloved husband again. “Rest in Peace, Grace….We Love You!!” she said.

The council president then offered her condolences and prayers to the family and friends of Seimer, adding, “As of now, there have not been any funeral arrangements made. As soon as I, or Jerry Landron, receive any funeral arrangements from Karen, her daughter, we will let everyone know.” She concluded her post, “Cherish your Family & Friends. “

Caldwell-Paris said Grace had been an active council member since the ‘90s and became treasurer in 2000, while Ed had been an active and honorary council member, helping out where necessary over the years. Grace was also very active with BMCA.

Friends and neighbors reacted to the news in shock and sorrow. Carol Ann wrote, “Ohh no, Gracie was a great person: kind, loving and caring. Mr and Mrs Seimer were both my friends and my patients. I’m going to miss them both, icons of the community, icons of my heart. May you Rest gently Grace. May the good lord hold you forever in his arms.”

Meanwhile, Bronx Community Board 7 member and sanitation committee chair, Betty Arce, wrote, in part, “Heartfelt condolences to her family, a great loss to our community…. I will miss her smile and sense of humor, her kindness and commitment to serving the community.”

Norwood News photographer, Miriam Quiñones, wrote, “My condolences to you her family and her friends. RIP” and Diletta Pina said she was heartbroken over the news. “I have no words,” she said. “This is a lady that I admired and respected so much. Our community has lost a hero.”

Caldwell-Paris later shared that the funeral arrangements were as follows:

• Wake: Friday, Nov 11, from 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. at John Fox & Son Funeral Home, located at 203 E. 201st. Street, Bronx NY
• Funeral Service: Saturday, Nov 12, 10 a.m. at St. Philip Neri Church, 3021 Grand Concourse, Bronx NY.

“Grace (Gracinda) Simoes Siemer died peacefully on Sunday, November 6, 2022, at United Hebrew of New Rochelle with family by her side. She was 92 years old. Born on October 23, 1930 in Anciao, Portugal, daughter of the late Teresa De Piedade Simoes and Mateus Simoes, Grace arrived in the United States, via Rhode Island, at six months old. Grace lived in many different places as a young child. Her family finally settled in The Bronx and she was a graduate of Walton High School.

On February 2, 1952 she married the love of her life, Edward Siemer, at Christ the King Church, Bronx N.Y. She was wed to her EDDIE for sixty nine and [a] half years.

Grace grew through many companies in the business world. She ran one-woman offices for Jewelry Street and Bellitte, became a royalty clerk for ASCAP, then an office assistant for Encyclopedia Britannica. She found her true calling employed by Avon Products. Grace started [her] as a District Manager. She became known for her ability to successfully train people from all walks of life and for her colorful, inspiring, and fun-filled, monthly training classes. Grace’s efforts were rewarded when she was promoted to Avon Trendsetter. She and her team presented and tracked results for new Avon Products. Grace was in the Top Ten Trendsetters, nationally, several times. As with all the companies she worked for, Grace has remained good friends with many of her coworkers. The same is true of many of her Walton classmates.

In her retirement, she was an active volunteer with the Pioneers, the Bedford Mosholu Community Association, and the 52nd Precinct [Community] Council, where she was treasurer for nine years. Grace did not have a favorite thing! Her energy and love of life involved her in many, participating in community and church events, plants, reading, cooking and baking, crossword puzzles, traveling and all NYC cultural events. While Grace loved her Bronx community deeply, she loved her immediate and extended family most of all. Her eyes always shone when they shared their life experiences with her.

Mrs. Siemer is predeceased by her loving husband, Edward, her parents, Teresa and Mateus Simoes, her brother, Glen Simoes, and her sisters-in-law, Mary and Martha. She is survived by her daughter, Karen, and her husband, Thomas Roach, her grandsons, Thomas and John, with his wife, Taleen, and great granddaughter, Olivia Leila, [as well as] her nieces and nephews, Steven, Christine, Susan and Peter, and great nephew, Kalkin, with his wife, Nikki, and children, Sage and Kali.”

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Welcome to the Norwood News, a bi-weekly community newspaper that primarily serves the northwest Bronx communities of Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights. Through our Breaking Bronx blog, we focus on news and information for those neighborhoods, but aim to cover as much Bronx-related news as possible. Founded in 1988 by Mosholu Preservation Corporation, a not-for-profit affiliate of Montefiore Medical Center, the Norwood News began as a monthly and grew to a bi-weekly in 1994. In September 2003 the paper expanded to cover University Heights and now covers all the neighborhoods of Community District 7. The Norwood News exists to foster communication among citizens and organizations and to be a tool for neighborhood development efforts. The Norwood News runs the Bronx Youth Journalism Heard, a journalism training program for Bronx high school students. As you navigate this website, please let us know if you discover any glitches or if you have any suggestions. We’d love to hear from you. You can send e-mails to norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org or call us anytime (718) 324-4998.