Catherine H. Sims, 67, of Milan, passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, January 29, 2025.

Catherine was born in Chicago, IL on August 8, 1957, to parents Daisy Mae (Nee Thompson) and Robert Lee Thomas. She spent her formative years in Elgin, IL before moving to East Moline in her later years. Before retirement, Catherine worked many years as a caregiver and then transitioned into the role as the head cook at the local nursing facility. Catherine married her best friend, Tommy in 2010 and they shared a happy life together until his passing in 2020. Catherine enjoyed writing, reading, crossword puzzles, and she enjoyed spending time and studying the word of God with her close friends at the Kingdom Hall. She especially cherished her grandchildren and loved watching them grow. Catherine was known for her unwavering faith, warm hugs, and contagious laugh. Her famous recipes, "The banana thing" and her homemade sweet potato pies were legendary, and she took pride in passing down her culinary secrets to her family.

Those left to cherish Catherine's memory are her children, Antoine (Teresa) Thomas, Terrell (Jennifer) Henderson, Josh (Felicia) Thomas, Jessica Thomas, Jeffery Henderson,  Sawnhedren (Erica) Sims, Sapria Sims, and Natasha Powers; siblings, Robert Thomas and Denise (Jamal) Turner. In addition, she leaves behind a host of beloved grandchildren, close relatives, and special friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents, first husband Carl Henderson, second husband Thomas Sims, and children Sharon Sims, and Shimria Sims.

Visitation will be held from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm on Saturday, February 8, 2025, at the Knox Chapel of Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home and Crematory, 2106 7th Ave, Rock Island, IL. The funeral will follow the visitation at 12:00 pm at the funeral home. Memorials may be made in care of the family.

The family wishes to express their sincere gratitude to all of you for your prayers, presence, phone calls, and all other expressions of concern that you have shown during their time of bereavement.