Family honours matriach

By Shaun Inguanzo
DEMENTIA-stricken great grandmother Lena Simmons celebrated her 90th birthday last weekend surrounded by family and friends.
Mrs Simmons migrated to Australia from Sri Lanka with her husband Godwin and six children in June 1969 to be reunited with her second son Hugh, who came to Australia in 1967.
Her eldest son, Kingsley, lives in Noble Park and migrated just two months after Hugh.
Mrs Simmons first lived in Westbury Street, St Kilda, before moving to Keysborough in 1973 to live near another son, Bernie, and his family.
Mrs Simmons was diagnosed with dementia in 2000 and now lives in Darval Lodge nursing home in Noble Park.
Kingsley Simmons told Star that he arranged for his mother’s birthday party to be held at her former house at Corrigan Road, Keysborough, where she lived for 27 years.
Mrs Simmons was widowed in January 1981. She has eight children, 22 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.