WATERBURY – Mr. Dennis J. Simmons, age 64, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, on Sunday, April 2, 2017 at his home. He was the beloved husband of Maryann (Remokitis) Simmons.
Mr. Simmons was born on November 7, 1952 in Derby, son of the late Lloyd and Florence (Oczkowski) Simmons. He was a graduate of Seymour High School and worked in maintenance at Kerite Company for over 40 years. Dennis was a longtime modified race car driver. He was a member of the Southern N.Y. Racing Association for over fifteen years and raced at the Plainville, Danbury and Waterford race tracks. He enjoyed working on cars, fishing and was a hardcore New England Patriots fan. He was devoted to his family and adored his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
In addition to Maryann, his wife of 26 years, Dennis is survived by his son, John Zaccagnini, of Waterbury; his daughters, Jodie Sanchez and her husband, Tommy, of Wolcott, Jennifer Zaccagnini, of Pensacola, Fla. and Jessica Zaccagnini, of Wolcott; eight grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. He also leaves his brothers, Phil Simmons and his wife, Patricia, of Ansonia and Jeffrey Simmons and his wife, Susan, of Beacon Falls; his sisters, Penny Kramer and her husband, Fred, of Beacon Falls, Patricia Yustin, of Naugatuck, Susan Egan and her husband, Dave, of Pennsylvania, Dorry McCann, of Beacon Falls and Dale Simmons, of Florida; as well as several generations of nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his grandson, Kenny Pelton.
The funeral will be held on Wednesday, April 5, 2017 at 9 a.m. from Maiorano Funeral Home, 95 Willow Street in Waterbury to Our Lady of Lourdes Church for a Mass at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery. Family and friends may call at the funeral home on Tuesday evening from 5 to 8 p.m. For more information and online condolences please visit www.maioranofuneralhome.com
