(continued from our 43rd edition of Life News. For the lead-in to this blog post, click here)

The newsletter story left off with a description of Denise Simcik’s unique nativity scene collection, which includes fifty-four hand-molded pieces made of Maltese clay. Denise is very fond of nativity scenes because, she says, it’s ‘in her blood’, inherited from her great grandfather who became known for creating the first mechanical nativity scenes. While Ambassador Council to the Austro-Hungarian empire, he would build huge nativity scenes—his mechanical version– with arms moving, etc. Even the bishop and governor came to see them. Each year, the Simciks display their own 4’ x 5’ diorama of an entire Bethlehem village.

But Denise’s hobbies don’t stop there. She is an avid worldwide postage stamp collector with a 62 year- old collection. “My interests also include family genealogy, Malta and US history, my flower gardens, and of course, nativity scenes of all shapes and sizes!” She and Mike both enjoy writing, as well. Denise’s writers’ group hasn’t met since Covid, but she still enjoys dabbling in short stories and the like. Mike has written over 200 articles for publications such as Michigan Woods and Waters, Life Adventures, and Senior Perspectives, et al.

For a while now, Denise and her husband have been taking-on projects both big and small. One of their largest was moving to Saugatuck from Illinois in October of 1982, and buying a derelict old hotel and restaurant, shuttered for nearly 20 years. “We totally restored and remodeled the building, researched its history back to 1865, and got it established on the Michigan State Historic Register. We then operated it for seventeen years as a successful bed and breakfast called The Twin Gables Country Inn and Cottages.” Five years into the project, they built an 1800 square foot addition to the property to use as their personal living quarters. “As owners-innkeepers,” she said, “it is necessary to live on the premises, especially when we have fourteen guestrooms and three cottages. So many things need taking care of when dealing with that many people at a time. I was the innkeeper-manager, and Mike did maintenance. It was a good life, and we have many happy memories. We also met some of the most wonderful people!” Denise continued reminiscing. “It was our full time living. Not as romantic as one would imagine, especially being so big. But we enjoyed it; however, there came a time when we needed a change of life. We do miss it, especially the building, as we put our life into it. I used to tell our guests that we were like the early pioneers who cut our apron strings from Illinois to start a new life with so little [belongings]. We accomplished much, with God’s help and with prayers.” Denise was actively involved as a six-year board member for the Saugatuck-Douglas Convention & Visitors Bureau, organizing art fairs, and forming the local Bed and Breakfast Association. She served as Board Secretary for six years, Treasurer for the B&B Association for fourteen years, and as a general committee member of ‘a couple other local organizations.’

In January 1999, the family moved to Spring Lake and for two years operated Top Shelf Bagel and Deli, where Jet’s Pizza is now. They were the second owners. Six years ago, Denise finally retired from two successive jobs and was free to become involved with pro-life volunteerism– eventually as secretary on the local Board of Directors for Tri Cities Right to Life (since June 2018) which she has enjoyed very much.

What she hopes people know about the pro-life movement is how precious life is —especially unborn babies who are so vulnerable, and how important it is to recognize their humanity. “[With abortion} a lot of potential is being deprived from that child. There is so much love to give, even as a baby. And a baby brings so much love and joy to people who look at a baby.“ And regarding her place of birth, she says, “They thankfully still don’t have abortion in Malta*, but they’re trying to get it in. I was really not exposed to abortion until we moved to the Tri-cities area. “

This article is our second in a series aimed at helping our readers get to know our Board members who are living the pro-life life. Denise brings a well-formed work ethic to her volunteerism and we are grateful for the ways she has helped advance the Tri Cities Right to Life mission.

This Christmas season, when you see a nativity scene, think of our member and friend, Denise, whose family history is filled with this rich Christmas tradition. Also remember this about her: she loves hot weather and hates the cold, as she never saw snow until arriving in the U.S. “I’ve been in this country all these years, and each winter I still complain about the cold,” she says. Denise, that’s not too unlike many of us native Michiganders. Thank you for sharing your story with our TCRTL Life News readers.

* Six nations – the Holy See, Malta, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Chile – do not allow abortion under any circumstances. Source: Independent citing a 2011 UN report.

Photos:

20th of April, 1969, Malta, in a 16th century church built by the Knights of Malta, also known as The Knights of St. John of Jerusalem. Denise was 20 years old at the time. Other photos: some of her nativity scenes.

MORE on Denise’s great grandfather: https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/antonio-muscat-fenech.67675

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