Woodbury has lost one of its most civic minded citizens this week with the death of long-time Woodbury resident Sharon Kugeman Simmons, on January 27, 2010. Sharon was born on April 19, 1933 and was a graduate of Staples High School of Westport. Sharon is known throughout the area for her many contributions to the community and her many personal accomplishments. As owner of the Hummingbird Hill Bed and Breakfast, Sharon has welcomed people from places far and wide to the Woodbury area. She was also active in the Litchfield Bed and Breakfast Association, the GFWC Women's Club of Woodbury, the Friends of Woodbury Senior Center, the annual Saint Paul's Fair and the Woodbury Business Association.
Sharon was a private pilot, holding a commercial pilots rating. She was active in the 99's, a women's flying organization founded by Amelia Earhart, a member of the Airline Owner's and Pilot's Association and a member of the Seaplane Pilots Association. Her interest in flying led her to co-publish the magazine "Aviation Digest" for a number of years.
Sharon loved to travel, taking many extended vacations to the Caribbean, and in recent years traveling to Egypt, Greece, the Far East, Australia, New Zealand, South America and other exotic and interesting places. With all of her travels and other activities, Sharon always found time to enjoy dancing with and enjoying the splendid company of the ballroom dancing groups in Woodbury and the surrounding areas.
Sharon was preceded in death by her father Thomas Morton Kugeman, her mother Helen Hutchison Kugeman and her longtime companion, Robert S. Dorr. She is survived by four children, Deborah Simmons Harris and her husband Jack of Baton Rouge, LA, Eugene Simmons and his wife Katherine of Woodbury, Tammie Simmons Arnold of Manassas, VA, and Scott Simmons and his wife Jill of Morris. She also leaves seven grandchildren, Sarah, Adam and Mark Simmons, Jonathan Arnold, Nicole and Samantha Simmons and David Knapp and his wife Mariette. She has one great grandchild, Colin Knapp. She enjoyed the great friendship and love of her 100 year old mother-in-law Mary Jungling and her two sister-in-laws Patricia Kugeman and Audrey Dance as well as two cousins, Edward Lamb and Pricilla Schwier.

Memorials: Memorial contributions can be made to the Woodbury Volunteer Fire Department, PO Box 561, the Woodbury Volunteer Ambulance Association, PO Box 581, or the Woodbury Senior Center, PO Box 493, Woodbury, Ct 06798.

Cemetery: Old North Cemetery

Location: Munson-Lovetere Woodbury

Funeral: St. Paul's Episcopal Church of Woodbury

Services: A funeral service will be held on Wednesday February 3rd at 10am at St. Paul's Church in Woodbury. Burial will take place in the spring at Old North Cemetery.

Visitation: Calling hours will be held on Monday Febuary 1st from 6 - 8pm at the Woodbury Funeral Home of Munson - Lovetere, 2 School St.