08/29/2026
We didn't have the pleasure of knowing Michael De Simone, but his obituary is such a wonderful example of joy and humor amidst grief that we wanted to share it with you here. 💐
IN LOVING MEMORY OF MICHAEL DE SIMONE — 1975-2026: Michael De Simone regrettably informs you that he is no longer alive.
This was not the plan.
He expected to be alive somewhat longer in order to do many more things. Unfortunately, there was some measure of disagreement between his mind and his body, and the arguments made by his body were, in the end, more persuasive.
Michael Andrew De Simone was born July 23, 1975, and died Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. He exited the world the way he entered it: eating pizza. He was 51 years old when he died, which is young for a man but quite old for a dog, so he left the world at peace in the knowledge that he outlived many, many dogs.
Michael was born in Hagerstown, Maryland, and died in Olympia, Washington. In the interim, he lived in numerous places: Florida, Texas, Arizona, South Korea, California, Washington, Texas (again), Washington (again), and perhaps more, who can know? He also traveled extremely widely, for work and pleasure, visiting every continent save Antarctica, which no one counts because it’s cold. He also took great solace in knowing that, in the great breadth of human history, very, very few people among the billions of human souls ever did much in the way of traveling, while he did a lot. Compared to a 12th-century nobleman, he basically saw the entire world, and he wasn’t even a nepobaby like some king.
The one big downside to not being alive is not being with the people one loves, and he loves a lot of people a great deal. He loves his parents, Dennis De Simone and Ruth Weber. He loves his brothers, Mark De Simone and Daniel De Simone, and his nephew, August De Simone. He loves his brother-in-law, Daniel Shults, and his family; his sister-in-law, Régine Labossière; his stepmother, Nida De Simone; his stepbrother, Michael Quan; and his daughter’s partner, Michael Kuerner. He loves his precious adopted dog-ter, Sandy. He loves his many friends and extended family, whom he will not list because of word count.
The greatest part of his love, though, was for the family he created with his wife of nearly 33 years, Daisy De Simone. They were high school sweethearts. And then Army sweethearts. And young parent sweethearts. And then adult sweethearts. And then sweethearts with teenagers. And then middle-age sweethearts. And then grandparent sweethearts. They never stopped being sweethearts, and forever sweethearts they remain.
Michael’s love for his two daughters, Johanna De Simone and Dani De Simone, is wider than creation. Creation wishes it was as wide as his love for Johanna and Dani. They came into his life early, as these things go in these times, but who would have it any other way? Who wouldn’t want as many moments as possible with their beloved children?
Michael also loves his three grandsons, Leo, Crispan and Trent. Every minute spent with them has been a reminder of the glory and wonder of the universe and the bottomless joy available to those who open their hearts to love.
Michael is, again, very sad to bring this news to you. It wasn’t much fun to receive. In lieu of flowers, he asks that you give your love freely, especially to those you hold most dear, because you never know when you might have to leave in a hurry.
A viewing will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 28, at Sticklin-Brown Funeral Chapel, 1437 S. Gold St., Centralia. A funeral service will follow at noon. A celebration of life reception will be held from 3:30 to 6 p.m. at the Fraternal Order of Eagles, 1993 S. Market Blvd., Chehalis.
(Chronicle obituary)
