Obituary for Alberta Shawell (Simms)
Alberta M. (Simms) Shawell, wife of John Shawell, went to be with her Lord on Saturday, April 29, 2023 with her loving family by her side. She was a daughter of the late Eugene and Bertha (Gibbs) Simms, Sr.
Alberta attended Pottstown High School, and years later she worked to obtain her Associates Degree in Accounting at Reading Area Community College. She worked as a faithful, dedicated church secretary at Second Baptist Church for over 30 years. She was a mentor, a light of truth, and a spiritual friend. You never had to wonder what was on her mind because she had a bold, confident way of sharing God’s word, and she never backed down from where God was leading her. You might not have wanted to hear what she had to say, but you always needed to hear it. She was passionate about sharing God’s message, His love, His hope, and His saving grace. She prayed every day for her family to grow closer to God and to give their lives over to Him.
Alberta also enjoyed spending time with her family. In addition to the local celebrations she made so much time for, she and John made so many trips to New York to attend birthdays, graduations, and so many special events and activities. She would always show up with an army of food, especially her yummy macaroni and cheese, potato salad, and her treasured pound cake and cheesecakes. If you were fortunate to enjoy any of those treats, you were truly blessed. And she was always so faithful at planning the family camping trip to Beachcomber Campground in Cape May, NJ, where she celebrated all of the family members and so many were blessed to visit and enjoy the love.
She was always so generous and giving, not only of her financial love gifts, but of her time, and just had a way about pulling people in and accepting them as part of the family. But she also took time to pamper herself – painting her nails, often shopping for clothes and shoes, and resting by the TV with some of the old favorite shows. By far, her favorite times were those spent with her husband John. With over 61 years of marriage, when you saw the one, the other was nearby. Their mornings started by spending time with God in her favorite room – the ‘Lighthouse’ sunroom. She loved to prepare meals for him, travel with him, drag him to the grocery store, Boscovs, and DSW. They enjoyed their spontaneous dates to McDonalds, Ritas, and many favorite food spots like Shady Maple and Perkins. She also persevered through his hunting season, and prayed for him to return safely and with a deer. She was one special lady, and she passed away peacefully cuddled up next to John, where they both always loved to be.
She will be missed beyond words, but the legacy of a strong and loving family that she helped build will live on.
Alberta leaves behind her memories to be cherished by her daughters: Sherry, wife of Robert Satterwhite, Karen, wife of Jesse Bunn, and Linda, wife of Paul VanDunk; her siblings, Charles, husband of Judy Simms, and Kathryn Simms; her nine wonderful grandchildren: James Reddick, Brittani Reddick, Christopher Reddick, Alexa Morefield, Denzel Bunn, Danielle Bunn, Pierce VanDunk, Preston VanDunk, Cory VanDunk; and her 16 wonderful great-grandchildren: Jazlyn, Jrue, and James Reddick, Jr., Kason Goddard; Xiomara Raffaele, Ava Collier, Makaila Plummer, and Lloyd L. Plummer III; Jacob Barbieri and Gracie Schilling; Symphany, Micah, and Noah Morefield-Diaz; Pierce VanDunk, Jr. and Malia VanDunk, and Preston VanDunk, Jr.
Along with her parents, Alberta is predeceased by a son John Shawell, Jr.; a great-grandson, Gabriel VanDunk; a brother, Eugene C. Simms, Jr; and three sisters, Barbara Ruth, Charlotte Harper, and Sandra Scott.
A Homegoing service will be held on Saturday, May 6, 2023 promptly at 11 a.m. at Second Baptist Church, Pottstown. Prior to service a public viewing will be held from 9 a.m. till 11 a.m. at the Church.
Burial will follow in Second Baptist Cemetery.
Warker-Troutman Funeral Home, Inc. is honored to serve the Shawell family.
Alberta attended Pottstown High School, and years later she worked to obtain her Associates Degree in Accounting at Reading Area Community College. She worked as a faithful, dedicated church secretary at Second Baptist Church for over 30 years. She was a mentor, a light of truth, and a spiritual friend. You never had to wonder what was on her mind because she had a bold, confident way of sharing God’s word, and she never backed down from where God was leading her. You might not have wanted to hear what she had to say, but you always needed to hear it. She was passionate about sharing God’s message, His love, His hope, and His saving grace. She prayed every day for her family to grow closer to God and to give their lives over to Him.
Alberta also enjoyed spending time with her family. In addition to the local celebrations she made so much time for, she and John made so many trips to New York to attend birthdays, graduations, and so many special events and activities. She would always show up with an army of food, especially her yummy macaroni and cheese, potato salad, and her treasured pound cake and cheesecakes. If you were fortunate to enjoy any of those treats, you were truly blessed. And she was always so faithful at planning the family camping trip to Beachcomber Campground in Cape May, NJ, where she celebrated all of the family members and so many were blessed to visit and enjoy the love.
She was always so generous and giving, not only of her financial love gifts, but of her time, and just had a way about pulling people in and accepting them as part of the family. But she also took time to pamper herself – painting her nails, often shopping for clothes and shoes, and resting by the TV with some of the old favorite shows. By far, her favorite times were those spent with her husband John. With over 61 years of marriage, when you saw the one, the other was nearby. Their mornings started by spending time with God in her favorite room – the ‘Lighthouse’ sunroom. She loved to prepare meals for him, travel with him, drag him to the grocery store, Boscovs, and DSW. They enjoyed their spontaneous dates to McDonalds, Ritas, and many favorite food spots like Shady Maple and Perkins. She also persevered through his hunting season, and prayed for him to return safely and with a deer. She was one special lady, and she passed away peacefully cuddled up next to John, where they both always loved to be.
She will be missed beyond words, but the legacy of a strong and loving family that she helped build will live on.
Alberta leaves behind her memories to be cherished by her daughters: Sherry, wife of Robert Satterwhite, Karen, wife of Jesse Bunn, and Linda, wife of Paul VanDunk; her siblings, Charles, husband of Judy Simms, and Kathryn Simms; her nine wonderful grandchildren: James Reddick, Brittani Reddick, Christopher Reddick, Alexa Morefield, Denzel Bunn, Danielle Bunn, Pierce VanDunk, Preston VanDunk, Cory VanDunk; and her 16 wonderful great-grandchildren: Jazlyn, Jrue, and James Reddick, Jr., Kason Goddard; Xiomara Raffaele, Ava Collier, Makaila Plummer, and Lloyd L. Plummer III; Jacob Barbieri and Gracie Schilling; Symphany, Micah, and Noah Morefield-Diaz; Pierce VanDunk, Jr. and Malia VanDunk, and Preston VanDunk, Jr.
Along with her parents, Alberta is predeceased by a son John Shawell, Jr.; a great-grandson, Gabriel VanDunk; a brother, Eugene C. Simms, Jr; and three sisters, Barbara Ruth, Charlotte Harper, and Sandra Scott.
A Homegoing service will be held on Saturday, May 6, 2023 promptly at 11 a.m. at Second Baptist Church, Pottstown. Prior to service a public viewing will be held from 9 a.m. till 11 a.m. at the Church.
Burial will follow in Second Baptist Cemetery.
Warker-Troutman Funeral Home, Inc. is honored to serve the Shawell family.