This online memorial is dedicated to Claudia Simmons. It is a place to celebrate her life with photos, stories, music and other tributes.

Claudia Simmons

Chmok, Chmok... Cooshai, Cooshai. (Eat, eat)

79 years old
Date of birth: November 22nd, 1939
Place of birth: Hailar, China
Date of passing: March 22nd, 2019
Place of passing: Concord, California, United States

In Loving Memory

Claudia Simmons

November 22, 1939 - March 22, 2019

This is the 3rd year anniversary of her passing.

She was 79 years of age.

She passed in her own home surrounded by family.

Claudia was born in Hailar, China, however was of

Russian descent. Born to her father, Feodor Kojin, and

her mother, Mariya Kojina. Claudia was the youngest of

5 children. She graduated high school in China. She then

moved with her family to Japan. There, she worked as a

typist for the American Army for 2 years.

From Japan she then came to the USA. California

is where she married and had 3 children. She raised

them with the knowledge of a rich Russian heritage

and foundation. Teaching them to have faith, as well

as learning to speak read and write in Russian. Claudia

was a wonderful woman who had a strong character.

Those that knew her know that she had a great sense

of humor. She loved to laugh and especially through

a “gotcha” moment. She was an exceptional cook. We

have so many fond memories of events that she hosted

for her family, where we all gathered around the dishes

she made for us to enjoy. She was loved and admired by

many, especially her friends and family.

We are so proud of her and all that she has done.

The world is a better place because she was in it.

She is survived by her children: Valentina, Leonard

(Karla), and Lara (Troy). Her grandchildren: Sandra

(Richard), Tanya, Anastasia (Jake) and Kayla. Her great

grandchildren: Nataliya, Rozalyn, Dominic, Carlos Jr.,

Tiago, Austin, Logan and Lydia. Her family in Japan:

Vadim (Laura), Tatiana and Cristina.
Mama we will remember you forever.

Memorial Tributes

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Candle lit by Lara Simmons on March 11th, 2022

Mamachka,
I miss you each passing day. I love you so very much. It's been hard here without you. I'm doing things I think you would love.
Thank you for every moment we shared. I cherish all the memories. I always will. Untill I see your beautiful face in front of me again I promise to always remember and appreciate all you have done for me. I love you mama.
Tvoya Lastochka,
Lara

Candle lit by Valentina Cortes on March 13th, 2022

Mom, this world is not the same without you in it! I miss sharing all the day-to-day things with you, my mother, my confidante, my mentor, my friend. There’s no one like you Mom! I love you forever and miss you so much, my greatest comfort is in knowing we will be together again one day, until then I treasure your memory in my heart with lots of love, Tina

Candle lit by Sandra Crawford on March 13th, 2022

Babachka
This place allows us to celebrate your life and for days I was speechless. I’ll say this, Today I prepared a beautiful meal for my little family. I put love in each step for them an used beautiful dishes just as you always did. I watched their faces glow as I served them an though I was tired, I felt love an I felt you. Chmock chmock

Candle lit by Karla Simmons on March 14th, 2022

Claudia was my mother in law for 35 years. One of the things I will always remember with great fondness was her Easter feasts she would lovingly prepare for her family. She spared no expense and cut no corners. This was one of her ways of expressing love towards her family, and we all have wonderful memories of sitting around the table and enjoying each other's company because of it.

Candle lit by Kayla Simmons on March 14th, 2022

Baba, I love you so much I still listen to your voicemails often as a way to comfort myself when I’m going through stressful times. Your smile, laugh, voice, and your sarcasm is one of a kind and will never be forgotten. Dad often comes to my house and jokes about the cleanliness of my kitchen and says “ok Claudia !” And that is a huge compliment to me.I know you are looking over me 24/7

Candle lit by Leonard Simmons on March 15th, 2022

My mom had a great sense of humor. She loved a good laugh and she could make others laugh. She had sarcasm mixed in with witty humor . She treated all of us as individuals, and would have a personal relationship unique to the person. I know she loved everybody. Everyone that knew her knew that you could not BS her!
I miss her.

Candle lit by Lara Simmons on March 20th, 2022

Clava (Claudia) was the youngest sister of our mother Olga. She was very close to us in age — less than 10 years apart — so we considered her as our older sister, rather than our aunt.

In our childhood in Harbin, she used to read us fairy tales. Vadim still remembers when she brought him to the movies (at that time, Tanya was too small.?

In spring 1953 we parted at the train station of Harbin, when we left with our parents Nikichi and Olga to reach Shanghai, on our way to Japan. Around 1958-59 Clava rejoined us in Japan together with her mother Maria and her brother Keisha with his family (wife Nona, and two small daughters Victoria and Olga). We lived close to each other. There are so many unfaded memories, it is hard to choose. Life was hard at that time, but having each other made us stronger.

Clava and the rest of the family decided to immigrate to the U.S. as life in Japan was hard in the post-war period, especially for non-Japanese. They left in spring 1962 from the port of Yokohama by ship. We still remember holding long colored tapes thrown from the ship by our beloved family members. We held the tapes for as long as we could as the ship was leaving the harbor. We really felt emotional when the tapes were cut off.

After Clava and family reached the U.S., we started exchanging letters. We were all so happy to know that Clava had a wonderful family, and was blessed with 3 children in California. She was a wonderful, fun and loving person, who remembered all our birthdays and name days, on which she never failed to send us cards with loving words.

Dear Clava, we miss you so much. You left all of us a legacy of love and respect. May you Rest In Peace, and watch over all of us from up above.

With all our love,

Vadim and Tanya (Tatiana) Koga

Candle lit by Lara Simmons on March 20th, 2022

The previous tribute left on behalf of our beloved family members in Japan. Vadim and Tanya Koga.
Thank you to them.

Respectfully,
The Simmons family

Candle lit by Lara Simmons on November 22nd, 2022

Happy Birthday Mama.
I miss you more than words can express. I love you!
Thanksgiving is just 2 days away. My favorite Holiday, because of you. Thank you my dear Mom for all the love and memories.
So long for now,
Your loving daughter, Lara

Candle lit by Lara Simmons on December 12th, 2023

Still missing you Mamachka!
I sure do think of all the memories we share. Troy and I both do. We laugh a lot. Your sense of humor is so precious to us. We make your recipes. Making candies now. You were so right, our love it never dies. It just grows stronger and stronger. Until we meet again....chmok chmok, tvoya lastachka.

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