Simona Marin, known as Andrea to her family, touched countless lives through her kindness, devotion to family and willingness to care for others.
BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Simona Marin, a beloved Yeager’s Sporting Goods employee whose kindness reached far beyond the store, died unexpectedly after a sudden illness.
Simona Marin, known as Andrea to her family, remembered for her generous heart, devotion to family and the joy she brought to those around her.
Her death came as a shock to friends, relatives and co-workers. I had seen her only a few days earlier. Nothing prepared those who loved her for how quickly she would be gone.
“Simona, I miss you,” co-worker Isabel Mace wrote. “In the past 7 years you have become someone I could trust with anything, my reality TV/Wicked buddy, and my absolute best friend.”
Mace remembered Marin as someone who carried joy into every room.
“You have the biggest heart, the best laugh, and you are one of the most selfless people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing,” she wrote. “It doesn’t even seem real that you’re gone.”
A Friend Who Always Took Care of Others
I met Simona while working in the fishing department at Yeager’s. Her family called her Andrea, but most of us at the store knew her as Simona.
She consistently looked after the people around her. She worked hard, noticed when someone needed help and offered support without expecting recognition.
When I launched PNW Daily, Simona became one of its earliest and strongest supporters. She encouraged the work from the beginning and continued cheering for its success.
That support meant more because it came from a friend who knew what it took to build something while working, raising a family and carrying responsibilities for others.
We were born in the same year, exactly one month apart. Our conversations often turned toward parenthood and our daughters. Her daughter, Kaylee, is close in age to my oldest daughter, Chloe.
The relationship Simona shared with Kaylee was beautiful. Their love for each other showed in the way they talked, worked and moved through life together.
A Couple Worth Cheering For
Simona and her husband, Donald Thompson, formed the kind of couple you wanted to see succeed.
Donald frequently stopped by the fishing department, between working at Costco and Sportsman’s Warehouse. His dedication to work and family always stood out. Together, he and Simona built a life centered on hard work, loyalty and love for their children.
They were simply an all-around great couple, and I loved cheering for them.
Simona’s death leaves her children without their mother, Donald without his wife and countless others without a friend who made their lives brighter.
Friends Remember a Lifelong Bond
News of Marin’s death brought an outpouring of memories from people who knew her during different parts of her life.
Christina Meza said she trained Marin when she joined the Yeager’s staff.
“I used to be really close with her,” Meza wrote. “She will be very missed by everyone.”
Victoria Smith-Pullman remembered a friendship that began much earlier.
“I’m so sad,” she wrote. “Simona Marin (Andrea) and I were best friends growing up. Her family was my family.”
Makaela Stroud met Marin about 15 years ago when they worked together at Taco Bell. Their relationship soon grew into something much deeper.
“She took me in as her daughter and always called me her Skinny Minnie,” Stroud wrote. “She was truly an angel on Earth, and we’re all so lucky to have her in our life.”
A Loss That Does Not Feel Real
It is difficult to write objectively about someone whose death hurts personally.
Simona was more than a former co-worker. She was a friend, a fellow parent and one of the people who believed in PNW Daily before it became what it is today.
Her life cannot fit inside a headline or a few paragraphs. However, the memories shared since her death reveal a clear and consistent picture.
Simona loved deeply. She gave freely. She took care of people.
Most of all, she made others feel like they mattered.
My heart is with Donald, her children, and every member of Simona’s family at this unbearable time. I will always be grateful that I knew her, worked beside her and had the chance to call her my friend.
About the Author
its true that she made you feel like you belong somewhere. i felt that my self. my relationship with Simona is that, my mother used to work with her for 7 years. after my mom had to leave. we did not stay in touch with Simona. but we still thought about her a lot, especially recently. the relationship she had with her daughter was a great one. I’ve seen them interact with each other at work. always friendly.