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June 6, 2018
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on June 8, 2018 from 4-8 PM. Funeral Services will be held at 10 AM on June 9, 2018 from the funeral home, then to Our Lady of Good Counsel RC Church, Pompton Plains, where at 11 AM a Funeral Mass will be offered.
Christopher J. Simon, 17 of Pompton Plains, died Wednesday, June 6, 2018 while his mother held him close. Afflicted with Cerebral Palsy at birth, his life has consisted of a series of challenges and he faced each one with unmatched courage and determination. He taught everyone around him how precious this life is, and about not taking anything for granted.
Christopher was born several weeks premature on August 17, 2000. By the grace of God, and the skill and dedication of the staff at the Valley Hospital NICU, Christopher’s parents brought him home for the first time four months later. Dawn and Mike learned quickly and found within themselves a unique strength that they didn’t previously know they had. They were dedicated to seeing that Christopher would enjoy life as much as anyone else, and they set out to see that he experienced all that he possibly could. With the help of so many amazing nurses, friends and family, that’s exactly what happened. Dawn was determined to see Christopher included in everything and go everywhere, regardless of the challenges. There were no insurmountable obstacles, and Dawn made sure of it. At four years old, Christopher was treated to a Make-a-Wish family vacation to Disney World, and if the permanent smile on his face was any indication of his enjoyment level, then he was having the time of his life there! Christopher enjoyed that trip so much, that he began fundraising for Make-A-Wish so that others could enjoy the same compassion which he had received. He has attended the Lead East car show in East Hanover every year since then (fourteen years), supporting the Make-a-Wish fundraising drive, and he truly enjoyed being there. Christopher attended school at the Children’s Therapy Center in Fair Lawn and Midland Park. He was proud to receive his diploma, wearing cap and gown, in 2014. Dawn also brought him to Franklin Lakes Challenger Baseball where he joined the “Dream Team,” playing baseball for ten years. He also joined the Challenger Bowling team which met at the Holiday Lanes in Oakland. They discovered his love of swimming and Christopher often went to the PRNJ pool in Wayne for his swimming therapy. He earned a bit of celebrity status after being featured in one of their advertisements. Later, he was introduced to therapy horseback riding in West Milford, which he quickly fell in love with as well. Halloween was among his favorite holidays and Dawn never failed to make him the best costumes. This past year, he was a slice of pizza, and had previously dressed up as a race car driver, an Indian, a Mummy, the Grim Reaper, Gene Simmons, Elvis, a Hippie, a drummer, and the list goes on. His wheel chair was always incorporated into his costume. He was also a regular in the Pequannock Memorial Day Parade, having marched with the Girl Scouts just two weeks ago. Christopher enjoyed watching the NY GIANTS on TV with his dad, and was treated to a few NY YANKEES games over the years, and those were especially memorable for him. Christopher also went to the beach in a specialty wheel chair that could carry him across the sand. He attended the St. Mary’s Catholic Church Special Needs Ministry which enabled him to receive his First Communion and, just recently, his Confirmation. He looked snappy that day, in his suit and tie, along with the fanciest shoes he’s ever owned. Christopher did, of course, have a favorite pair of shoes; his Converse All Stars. These had previously belonged to a dear friend of his, Alex Seifried, who also had Cerebral Palsy and passed away two years ago.
Christopher loved doing things with his family, especially his little sister, Samantha. She is nothing less than his personal angel, and she has fed him with love since the day she was born. She has truly been there for him at every turn. They went fishing together at PV Park, and Christopher never missed one of her softball games. He was her biggest fan! The two of them really enjoyed visiting the Easter Bunny and Santa, anxious to have their picture taken each holiday season. Samantha learned from an early age how to help care for her brother. She became keenly aware of his needs, watching him closely when he experienced seizures, and she was especially helpful at communicating for him, telling his nurses what he was in need of. She was a huge help to her mom, and gave her brother uncommon compassion.
Christopher was a very brave boy. Despite his Cerebral Palsy, he was stronger than most people who are not similarly afflicted. His life of 6,502 days was a constant battle for survival, and a never ending struggle. Yet, his love flowed limitlessly for everyone he met, and for all those who helped him along the way. His smile said it all. In the hospital room on June 6, he saw a busy and endless flow of countless visitors, hearing the words “I love you” more times than anyone could count. It was, in its own way, a beautiful scene. Yet during a few brief and peaceful moments alone, with no one in the room but his mother holding him, he decided it was time to end the battle, to die. He did it his way. His struggle has ended, and he will be dearly missed, but the love he shared during his lifetime is more genuine than anything imaginable, and that will be his legacy.
Christopher is survived by his devoted parents; Dawn and Michael Simon of Pompton Plains, his loving sister Samantha, grandparents; Barbara Waibel of Wayne, and Louis Waibel and his wife Kathie of Hemlock Farms, PA, aunts and uncles; Cherylyn Mazakas and her husband Stephen of Califon, NJ, Louis Waibel and his wife Kerri of Kinnelon, NJ, Michelle McKeen and her husband Michael of Verona, NJ, and James Simon of Hawley, PA, cousins; Silas, Lou, Matt, Annabelle, Elizabeth, Cassidy, Kelsey, Bryan, Jeanine, Nathaniel, Linda, and Vince, and a large, extended family.
In lieu of flowers, donations would be greatly appreciated to the Mary Therese Rose Fund, www.marythereserose.org. You can also mail your donations to; MTRF, Inc., 33 Wolfe Drive, Wanaque, NJ 07465, attn. Jack Crilly.
An excerpt from the poem “I Am the Child;”
I am the disabled child.
I am your teacher. If you allow me,
I will teach you what is really important in life.
I will give you and teach you unconditional love.
I gift you with my innocent trust, my dependency upon you.
I teach you about how precious this life is and about not taking things for granted.
I teach you about forgetting your own needs and desires and dreams.
I teach you giving.
Most of all I teach you hope and faith.
I am the disabled child.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on June 8, 2018 from 4-8 PM. Funeral Services will be held at 10 AM on June 9, 2018 from the funeral home, then to Our Lady of Good Counsel RC Church, Pompton Plains, where at 11 AM a Funeral Mass will be offered.
June 6, 2018
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on June 8, 2018 from 4-8 PM. Funeral Services will be held at 10 AM on June 9, 2018 from the funeral home, then to Our Lady of Good Counsel RC Church, Pompton Plains, where at 11 AM a Funeral Mass will be offered.
Christopher J. Simon, 17 of Pompton Plains, died Wednesday, June 6, 2018 while his mother held him close. Afflicted with Cerebral Palsy at birth, his life has consisted of a series of challenges and he faced each one with unmatched courage and determination. He taught everyone around him how precious this life is, and about not taking anything for granted.
Christopher was born several weeks premature on August 17, 2000. By the grace of God, and the skill and dedication of the staff at the Valley Hospital NICU, Christopher’s parents brought him home for the first time four months later. Dawn and Mike learned quickly and found within themselves a unique strength that they didn’t previously know they had. They were dedicated to seeing that Christopher would enjoy life as much as anyone else, and they set out to see that he experienced all that he possibly could. With the help of so many amazing nurses, friends and family, that’s exactly what happened. Dawn was determined to see Christopher included in everything and go everywhere, regardless of the challenges. There were no insurmountable obstacles, and Dawn made sure of it. At four years old, Christopher was treated to a Make-a-Wish family vacation to Disney World, and if the permanent smile on his face was any indication of his enjoyment level, then he was having the time of his life there! Christopher enjoyed that trip so much, that he began fundraising for Make-A-Wish so that others could enjoy the same compassion which he had received. He has attended the Lead East car show in East Hanover every year since then (fourteen years), supporting the Make-a-Wish fundraising drive, and he truly enjoyed being there. Christopher attended school at the Children’s Therapy Center in Fair Lawn and Midland Park. He was proud to receive his diploma, wearing cap and gown, in 2014. Dawn also brought him to Franklin Lakes Challenger Baseball where he joined the “Dream Team,” playing baseball for ten years. He also joined the Challenger Bowling team which met at the Holiday Lanes in Oakland. They discovered his love of swimming and Christopher often went to the PRNJ pool in Wayne for his swimming therapy. He earned a bit of celebrity status after being featured in one of their advertisements. Later, he was introduced to therapy horseback riding in West Milford, which he quickly fell in love with as well. Halloween was among his favorite holidays and Dawn never failed to make him the best costumes. This past year, he was a slice of pizza, and had previously dressed up as a race car driver, an Indian, a Mummy, the Grim Reaper, Gene Simmons, Elvis, a Hippie, a drummer, and the list goes on. His wheel chair was always incorporated into his costume. He was also a regular in the Pequannock Memorial Day Parade, having marched with the Girl Scouts just two weeks ago. Christopher enjoyed watching the NY GIANTS on TV with his dad, and was treated to a few NY YANKEES games over the years, and those were especially memorable for him. Christopher also went to the beach in a specialty wheel chair that could carry him across the sand. He attended the St. Mary’s Catholic Church Special Needs Ministry which enabled him to receive his First Communion and, just recently, his Confirmation. He looked snappy that day, in his suit and tie, along with the fanciest shoes he’s ever owned. Christopher did, of course, have a favorite pair of shoes; his Converse All Stars. These had previously belonged to a dear friend of his, Alex Seifried, who also had Cerebral Palsy and passed away two years ago.
Christopher loved doing things with his family, especially his little sister, Samantha. She is nothing less than his personal angel, and she has fed him with love since the day she was born. She has truly been there for him at every turn. They went fishing together at PV Park, and Christopher never missed one of her softball games. He was her biggest fan! The two of them really enjoyed visiting the Easter Bunny and Santa, anxious to have their picture taken each holiday season. Samantha learned from an early age how to help care for her brother. She became keenly aware of his needs, watching him closely when he experienced seizures, and she was especially helpful at communicating for him, telling his nurses what he was in need of. She was a huge help to her mom, and gave her brother uncommon compassion.
Christopher was a very brave boy. Despite his Cerebral Palsy, he was stronger than most people who are not similarly afflicted. His life of 6,502 days was a constant battle for survival, and a never ending struggle. Yet, his love flowed limitlessly for everyone he met, and for all those who helped him along the way. His smile said it all. In the hospital room on June 6, he saw a busy and endless flow of countless visitors, hearing the words “I love you” more times than anyone could count. It was, in its own way, a beautiful scene. Yet during a few brief and peaceful moments alone, with no one in the room but his mother holding him, he decided it was time to end the battle, to die. He did it his way. His struggle has ended, and he will be dearly missed, but the love he shared during his lifetime is more genuine than anything imaginable, and that will be his legacy.
Christopher is survived by his devoted parents; Dawn and Michael Simon of Pompton Plains, his loving sister Samantha, grandparents; Barbara Waibel of Wayne, and Louis Waibel and his wife Kathie of Hemlock Farms, PA, aunts and uncles; Cherylyn Mazakas and her husband Stephen of Califon, NJ, Louis Waibel and his wife Kerri of Kinnelon, NJ, Michelle McKeen and her husband Michael of Verona, NJ, and James Simon of Hawley, PA, cousins; Silas, Lou, Matt, Annabelle, Elizabeth, Cassidy, Kelsey, Bryan, Jeanine, Nathaniel, Linda, and Vince, and a large, extended family.
In lieu of flowers, donations would be greatly appreciated to the Mary Therese Rose Fund, www.marythereserose.org. You can also mail your donations to; MTRF, Inc., 33 Wolfe Drive, Wanaque, NJ 07465, attn. Jack Crilly.
An excerpt from the poem “I Am the Child;”
I am the disabled child.
I am your teacher. If you allow me,
I will teach you what is really important in life.
I will give you and teach you unconditional love.
I gift you with my innocent trust, my dependency upon you.
I teach you about how precious this life is and about not taking things for granted.
I teach you about forgetting your own needs and desires and dreams.
I teach you giving.
Most of all I teach you hope and faith.
I am the disabled child.
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