Delores "DeeDee" M. Smith, 76 of Eureka formerly of Metamora passed away at 8:02am Friday May 7th at her residence at Maple Lawn Homes in Eureka.
She was born on Sept 2 1933 in Farmington the daughter of Jonathon L. and Elsie M. (Colvin) Phillips. She married Eldrick E. Smith, on Sept 19, 1953 in Peoria. He passed away on July 16, 1989. She was also preceded in death by one Son Ronald and one infant brother.
Surviving are her children Eldrick “Bud” (Robin) Smith of Eureka, Teresa “Terri” Vincent of Eureka; James E. (Linda) Smith of Oswego, IL; Kathryn (Tom) Ramos of North Richland Hills, TX; and Raymond A. Smith of Lafayette, IN. Further surviving are 12 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren as well as two sisters Marilyn (Jim) Lounsberry of Hanna City, IL and Eleanor (Pete) Baker of Peoria, IL
Delores is the name she was born with but everyone who knew her knew to call her Dee Dee. As a young girl she started working as an ice cream server at a soda fountain in Farmington. She worked as a secretary at Cat, and at Foster Gallagers. She drove a bus for the Metamora School District and kept the kids in line by having a radio on the bus and playing music and if they started to get out of line she would say to stop, or the music goes off, everyone would get quiet.
Besides being our mother, friend, confidant, and our drill sergeant, she touched many lives with the groups she was involved with throughout her life. She led and shaped young minds while serving as a girl scout leader. The girls of her troop loved her but when she was part of the yearly Camp Tapawingo camp out, all the girls learned quickly that “Dee Dee” would make each task a learning experience, but really fun too. Our entire family are avid campers, we started out in tents at Brook Lake in Mackinaw, mom and dad could really pack a car, to camping in a trailer and deck out at Condits Ranch in Putman, sitting around the community fire ring playing "Ca-hoot"s or "Pillow the Pillow", always fun.
Our mom was part of many groups that served people through her faith, Alter Rosary Society and Communion Ministers at St Mary’s Catholic Church in Metamora, Cursillo, TEC and Walk to Emmaus. She served in many capacities for the outreach programs, helped in the kitchen, gave talks, served as a leader, but mostly, she was a friend to all. She used to joke out loud in front of anyone about all the times she went to prison, to get a reaction then quietly added for the Walk to Emmaus Prison Ministry. She said this outreach was close and dear, because she said she felt she touched many of the lives that were in that situation.
She worked at Maple Lawn in many capacities but was instrumental in growing or actually starting many programs while at Maple Lawn. One of the programs was the Meals on Wheels Program for Woodford County out of the Maple Lawn kitchen. While activity director for the Apartments and Cottages she started the Trips Program and took many people to close and far away places and while she was there in the front of the van talking about their destinations or driving and getting lost, many have said that each trip was unique. After she retired, she moved into Maple Lawn Apartments as a resident and she was active in counsels for the residents.
A Mass of Christian burial for DeeDee will be 10am Tuesday May 11, 2010 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Metamora with Fr. Don Roszkowski officiating. Visitation will be from 4pm until 7pm Monday May 10 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Metamora with recitation of the Rosary at 7pm. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Peoria. A memorial service will be held at 10am on Monday May 10, 2010 in Memorial Hall at Maple Lawn Communities.
In lieu of Flowers memorials may be given in her name to Meals on Wheels c/o of Maple Lawn DeeDee 700 N. Main St. Eureka, IL 61530. To send online condolences please visit www.masonfuneralhomes.com