Josephine R. Sim

 Josephine Rita Sim

April 1, 1916 - December 26, 2022

Josephine Rita Sim (Josie), formerly of West Pothouse Road, Phoenixville, entered eternal rest at the age of 106 the morning of December 26, 2022, at the home of her son and daughter-in-law in Newport Beach, California.

Josie, Mom, Mom-Mom or Cioci Josie, was beloved by her extended family and friends. For her 106^th Birthday on April 1, 2022, the local Newport Beach, California, Daily Pilot newspaper featured an article titled “It’s No Joke! -  Josie Sim Celebrates 106 Years on April Fool’s Day”, which described her long, active life and the many events she witnessed.

Josie was born during the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1916 to John and Catherine (Novack) Bernat of Phoenixville, attended St. Mary’s and Holy Trinity Catholic schools and Phoenixville High School before working at a hosiery mill. From 1940 to 1990 she and her husband of 55 years, George Sim (whom she met playing in the mill employee basketball league) ran the Jefferson House Tavern at 201 High Street. She enjoyed playing bingo into her 90’s and attending services and participating in the Rosary Society at Holy Trinity Catholic Church (where she was the oldest living member).  Anyone dropping in for a visit, whether friend or extended family- did not leave without at least a drink and a snack, if not a full meal. Anyone will attest she always looked younger than her years.

At age 103 she made the decision to move to California to live with her son Richard, and his wife Ann. She continued to enjoy visits from her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as phone calls, cards and visits from relatives and friends. In California she enjoyed daily walks (using her metallic pink walker) in the neighborhood, sitting on the patio enjoying the sun and fresh air and attending Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church.

Josie was fierce in her faith, kneeling for her nightly prayers her whole life. She excelled as a grandmother and great-grandmother with visits to the Gateway or Seacrist’s Pharmacies (when they still had soda fountains), always had cooked chocolate pudding in her refrigerator, planned picnics and walks (in her eighties) in Valley Forge Park, gave lessons on how to sew a button and how to make her much loved coleslaw recipe. She was a willing babysitter to grandkids and great grandkids and attended so many recitals, plays, sporting events, baptisms, high school/ college graduations and weddings.  She truly was a matriarch and loved by all.

In addition to her son and daughter-in-law, Richard and Ann (Ruffing) Sim, Josie is survived by five grandchildren - Andrea Sim Maloney, Danielle Sim, Christopher Sim, Brian Sim (Laurie) and Douglass Sim (Syndi), six great grandchildren- Moira Sim, Connor and Calder Maloney, Taylor and Andrew (Caroline) Sim and London Sim. She is also survived by her many nieces and nephews and their families. 

She is pre-deceased by her parents John and Catherine Bernat, her husband, George Sim and her siblings and their spouses, Stella Obara (John), Andrew “Smokey” Bernat, Leona Sech (Robert), Henry Bernat (at age 5) and Henry “Red-Hot” Bernat (Dorothy) and grandson in-law Hal Maloney.

Friends and family are invited to attend a funeral mass at 11:00AM at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 212 Dayton Street, Phoenixville, PA, 19460 on Friday, January 6, 2023, viewing at 9:45am.

Burial will be immediately following in the Holy Trinity Catholic Church Cemetery

In-lieu of flowers a donation may be made to Holy Trinity/St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church, 212 Dayton Street, Phoenixville, PA 19460.