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Nancy J. Smith, 84, of Kankakee peacefully passed away, Wednesday (March 20, 2013) at her home surrounded by her loved ones. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 27, 2013 at Lax Mortuary in Kankakee; a prayer service will be held at 6:30 p.m. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. on Thursday, March 28, 2013, until the 10 a.m. services at the New Jerusalem SDA Church in Bradley. Burial will be in the Momence Cemetery. Memorials may be made in her honor to New Jerusalem SDA Community Services, New Jerusalem SDA Adventist Youth Society, Bradley, Illinois, or the Ephesus SDA Church, Hopkins Park, Illinois. Nancy was a Mental Health Technician III, retiring from Shapiro Center in 1989. After which she became a beloved caregiver and then a foster grandparent for Kankakee School District 111 at the Mark Twain Elementary School retiring in August 2012. She had been a faithful member of the Ephesus SDA Church for 49 years prior to transferring her membership to the New Jerusalem SDA Church in early 2012. Nancy was born November 27, 1928 in Jackson, Mississippi, the eighth child of James and Olivia Harper. Her husband, Buster Smith, whom she married in September 1951, preceded her in death in August 1997. She enjoyed her family, church activities, singing hymns, gardening, and shopping. She is survived by two daughters, Joyce Shoemaker of St. Anne and Rita (Michael) Morris of Kankakee and one son, Allen of Bloomington; three sisters, Rubia Wilson of Port Gibson, Mississippi; Hattie Neal of New Orleans, Louisiana; and Annie (Henry) Moore of Jackson, Mississippi; one brother, Arthur Harper of Jackson, Mississippi;13 grandchildrenÃ¢â‚¬â€ Capri, Carey, Camille; Allen Jr., Carlton, Tiffany, Jovan, Sade, Austin, Kito, Timothy; Christopher (Sara), Sterling and 18 great-grandchildren; special daughtersÃ¢â‚¬Â Marie Straford, Bedelia Allen, Carolyn Cox, Linnette McNeal, and Dorothy Riley; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, five brothers, James, William, Elliot, Clarence, and Lanier; one sister, Elma, and one great-grandson, Romano. In the last few weeks of her life on this earth, Nancy was surrounded by some very loving caregiversÃ¢â‚¬â€ the same care, love, and concern she gave to others was returned unto her byÃ¢â‚¬â€ Barbara, Becky, Bessie, Carolyn, Donis, Dorothy, Fruitsy, Ida, Linnette, Mollie, Sabrina, and Thelma. Her genuine caring spirit for nurturing and helping others, as well as her immense love for Jesus Christ and to share the good news of His soon return will remain as an example in our hearts forever.

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NANCY SMITH

November 27, 1928 - March 20, 2013

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NANCY SMITH

November 27, 1928 - March 20, 2013

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