Simone Lucia Dalfonzo Kent

Simone Lucia Dalfonzo Kent, aged 59, passed away on September 15, 2023, in Bountiful, Utah of complications from a car accident that took her ability to walk 1,195 days ago. Simone was born on November 16, 1963, on an Air Force base in Tachikawa, Japan to Hannelore Lerch and Robert Dalfonzo. She grew up all over the world, Japan, Germany, New Jersey, and Utah before settling in Las Vegas where she graduated class of 1982 at Eldorado High School.

After high school, she moved to Salt Lake City, where she attended the University of Utah to pursue a degree in photography. While at school, she started working as a waitress at Denny’s where she met Richard Kent, who was a dishwasher and they were married on August 23, 1985, in the Little White Chapel, in Las Vegas. Not long after, they welcomed their children Carlyann and two and a half years later, welcomed Cameron. Rick and Simone had a love for the outdoors, camping at Fish Lake, and road trips to Vegas with Billy Joel on a loop while crabbing up in Washington. Summers were also spent running food booths, whether it was with ice cream or tamales, at different town fairs or along the Days of ‘47 Parades.

She dedicated most of her working career to food service at various assisted living communities as a dietary manager, where she bonded with seniors and nurtured her love of service. She spent many Thanksgiving and Christmas’ with her family in the kitchen serving meals to residents so that her staff could spend time with their families. She was a very kind and compassionate manager but ran a tight ship. She was usually home to watch the afternoon football game.

Her love of service ran deep, through being a troop leader for the Girl Scouts of America or a den leader of the Boy Scouts of America. She was always planning service projects, like raking leaves, painting horse stables, building birdhouses for Hogle Zoo, helping the horseback riding students at Courage Reins, a barn for special needs riders, and building every kind of kit imaginable to donate to shelters. There wasn’t a craft that she wouldn’t give 100% to making. The house was filled with puzzle pieces, picture frames, and other ornaments. Simone also coached young women’s volleyball without really knowing about the sport, but she made it so much fun.

Her sense of adventure took her everywhere and she could not be tied down. A lot of weekends were spent at R.C. Willey or Costco or on a cruise ship to Mexico. She was always looking for her next big adventure that took her winemaking or to the Shire in New Zealand, or deep in the woods or on a beach somewhere. Simone had a green thumb that you wouldn’t believe, she was always collecting clippings and growing them into trees. Her house was filled with plants and the outside was filled with gardens.

Simone’s strength was unmatched, through caring for Rick for 30 years without batting an eye. Seeing him through diabetes, surgery after surgery, two kidney transplants, countless doctor appointments, and later in life, his onset of dementia until he passed away in 2015.

In 2016, she met her partner Johnny Hakim, who added to the adventure. He nurtured her spirit by helping her rekindle her faith and she was confirmed in the Catholic Church. She was determined to live her best life and Johnny helped her pursue it. They purchased a home in Brigham City in 2018, and she loved hosting parties and making it her own. Simone and Johnny were always on the road discovering new things and trying new food exploring the world.

Only 5 short years after Rick died, she was paralyzed in a car accident and almost lost the fight there, but her spirit never wavered and she always had a smile on her face, even though she was in constant pain and fought constant infections. She had the staff wrapped around her fingers, constantly teasing them about their football teams and joining in the gossip. Though she wanted to go to her home in Brigham City, she made South Davis Community Hospital her home with her plants, which thrived under her green thumb.

Simone is survived by her children Carlyann and Cameron, and her grand-cats McGee and Artemis, her partner Johnny Hakim and his children Joanna, Johnny, and Juanita (Edgar), mother Hannelore Wacker, father Robert Dalfonzo and his wife Carol, sisters Maureen and Andrea, in-laws Debbie and Bobby Carter, Kevin and Charito Kent, many nieces and nephews who she adored greatly, and her best friends Edma, Armando, and Armando Garcia. She is preceded in death by her husband Richard James Kent, mother-in-law Kay Kent, and her beloved ginger cat, Jack.

We would like to thank South Davis Community Hospital which took very loving care of Simone for the last 3 years. We cannot thank you all enough for the loving detail, kindness, and concern for Mom and us as a family. During this journey, there were many people at SDCH who touched our lives, we know that there are many nurses, doctors, aids, social workers, and those who worked behind the scenes to keep Mom as comfortable as possible for which we extend our deepest gratitude and love. You created a ‘normal’ for us that we would not have been able to have without you. You guys gave Mom the best life that she could have had through your interaction with her. She lived vicariously through your conversations and your TV show recommendations, for which we will always be grateful.

Thank you, especially to Margo, who took care of her plants and helped them thrive.

We would also like to thank St. Olaf’s Catholic Church, who helped take care of Mom spiritually.

Last but not least, we would like to thank all of her friends and family who took the time to visit Mom during this hard time in her life.

A service to honor Simone's life will be held on Thursday, September 21, 2023, at Larkin Mortuary, located at 260 East South Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah. The visitation period will take place from 9:30 AM to 10:45 AM, and funeral services at 11:00 AM. The interment will take place at Valley View Cemetery.