She was born Feb. 28, 1928 in Biddeford; a daughter of Joseph T. and Marion E. Cole. She attended Kennebunk schools and graduated from Gould Academy in Bethel.

Mrs. Simonds attended the University of New Hampshire where she met her husband, Stephen P. Simonds. They were married in 1952 at Christ Church in Kennebunk and spent their first year together at the University of Chicago living in a World War II veteran’s Quonset hut. They returned to New Hampshire and started their family.

She was a leader for the League of Women Voters in Cape Elizabeth, sponsoring candidate nights and promoting civic engagement in the political process. She helped enlisted Cape Elizabeth High School students to plan and conduct of candidates’ night. She was a Girl Scout leader, arts committee chairman, school board member and library trustee. In 1988 she received the town’s Gould Award for Outstanding Citizenship.

She is predeceased by two brothers, Joseph T. Cole Jr. and Charles E. Cole.

She is survived by her husband; sons, Scott P. Simonds and his wife Jaclyn of Saco and their children, Megan, Heather and Stephen, Mark E. Simonds and his wife Kathryn of Cape Neddick and child Daniel; daughters, Laura S. Rumpf and her husband Eric, currently of  Madagascar and children Holly and Anna Martha Jane S. LaPlante and husband Daniel of South Portland and their children: Renee, Nicole and Aimee; sister Barbara Perry of Kennebunk and sisters-in-law Barbara Rothenburger of Brewster, Mass. and Karin Cole of Lyman.

A celebration of life will be held Tuesday, April 27 at 2 p.m. at Christ Church, 6 Dane Street, Kennebunk. Burial will be private. Arrangements are by Hope Memorial Chapel, 480 Elm Street, Biddeford.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Plant A Row For The Hungry. Checks should be made out to CCEA. On memo line: Judy Simonds Mem. Mail to: UM Cooperative Extension, Attn: Amy Witt, PO Box 9300, Portland, ME 04104.