Obituary of Dishreen Simmons

Dishreen Lawanda Simmons, beloved wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend embodied the essence of family with persistent devotion. Affectionately known as "Lil-bit" or "Stink" by her closest kin, Dishreen graced this world on December 23, 1975, in Newark, NJ, to Eric Riddle and Mildred "Diane" Lambert (formerly Mildred Riddle).

A proud New Jersey native, Dishreen's journey led her through private schools in Newark during her formative years. Her pursuit of knowledge blossomed at Bloomfield College, where she earned a Bachelor's degree in Sociology and Criminal Justice. During these years, Dishreen fell in love with house music and her husband, Rodney Simmons. They spent many years together cuttin' up the rug at Marlo's, the Peppermint, or one of the other trending nightclubs before having their daughters, Maya Simmons and Makayla Simmons. 

Dishreen's career path spanned over twenty-five years as a social worker and case manager with the Kintock Group and Trinitas Regional Medical Center. In her final years, she embraced the full-time homemaker role. She became the go-to mom for her daughters' various activities, including soccer, band, and color guard.

To those who truly knew her, Dishreen was bossy. But she was also unapologetically honest and authentic. She never feared speaking her mind, telling people off, if need be, or holding a petty grudge every other week with either a friend, "Rodney," "Rasheedah," or "Mommy." Her preferred person to bicker with was, without a doubt, her mother. She would sit on the phone with "Mommy" during the day, watching Maury, Steve Wilkos, or some other daytime show as she folded her family's clothes or prepared dinner. Before you knew it, hours later, the immediate family would hear about Dishreen being upset because "Mommy" said something insensitive about her cooking, or "Mommy" said something about who's making the macaroni and cheese for Thanksgiving, or "Mommy" is mad because “I won't go to the family reunion this summer.”

These daytime conversations and bickering sessions between Dishreen and "Mommy" would seem trivial to some or downright annoying to most. Still, underneath the surface, these spats expressed Dishreen's deep-rooted commitment to family and motherhood. When Dishreen was diagnosed with colon cancer approximately four years ago, her immediate family members all received the same call and message: "Take care of my babies."

And that message never changed throughout her battle. During the weeks leading up to her death, Dishreen remained bossy. She made sure to give her husband, her brother, her sister, her bonus dad, and her mother specific jobs to make sure "her babies" lived the life she envisioned for them.

Her love for her daughters, Maya and Makayla, was special. Her girls were the most important people in her life. She sacrificed many aspects of her well-being to guard "the girls" from the slightest challenge or inconvenience. And like she did with "Mommy" every day, she also bickered with her daughters while guiding and teaching them about life.

In all, Dishreen was always ready for scandalous laughter, indulging in good Chinese food or pasta with her family, hunting for bargains at Marshall's or Gabe's, or immersing herself in creative DIY projects. Dishreen was naturally a resilient woman with a strong demeanor and a positive outlook on life, legacy, and family.

Dishreen leaves behind a legacy of love and laughter cherished by her husband; daughters; parents, Julian and Diane Lambert; father-in-law, Benjamin Simmons (Aleta Simmons, deceased); sister, Rasheedah Riddle; brother, Al-Jabbar Riddle; a nephew and godson, Maurice Harrell; brother-in-law, Anthony Womble (sister-in-law, Darcell Womble); nephews, Tyler Womble and Brandon Womble; and a vast network of extended family and friends including the Ford family; the Lambert family; and the Simmons family.

She was predeceased by her loving great grandmother, Rose “Big Momma” Gaines; grandmother, Dorthy Mae Kemp; and grandfather, Thomas Preston Palin.

In her memory, her family urges all to educate themselves about colon cancer and advocate for awareness, honoring Dishreen's enduring legacy.

She never doubted God, but in her final days, Dishreen questioned why she had to depart from her family so soon. Though the answer eludes us all, her memory is a light of strength, inspiring all who knew her to embrace life with genuine love, courage, and old-fashioned grit.