Florence Brenda Smith of Monroe, Wisconsin, passed away Saturday, March 7, 2009, at the Monroe Clinic Hospital, after an extended illness. Brenda was born March 1, 1930 and just celebrated her 79th birthday. She was born in Barrow-in-Furness, England, the youngest daughter of George and Margaret (Sumpton) Jones. As a teenager, she lived through the German Blitz of England, and spent many nights in the family bomb shelter.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers, Norman, George, and Laurence Jones, and by her sister, Rita Fiedorowicz.
She emigrated to the United States in 1951 to the city of Freeport, Illinois, and married Robert P. (Bob) Smith of that city in 1954. They were married for 54 years. In addition to her husband, Brenda is survived by daughters, Karen Smith of Rice Lake, Wisconsin, Patricia (Greg) Gille of Apache Junction, Arizona, and Janet (Michael) Bennett of Monona, Wisconsin. Also surviving are her grandchildren, Christina Erickson, Meghann and Robert Schottenbauer, Sean and Kailey Bennett, and by her great-grandson, Caden Erickson. Also by her sisters, Lila Clure, Beatrice Edgar, and Veronica Churchward, and by her brother, Alan Jones, all of England, and by numerous nephews and nieces in England, Canada, and Austria.
The Smith family moved to Monroe in 1972, when Bob became Senior Trust Officer of the First National Bank and Trust. Brenda was a homemaker, a member of Grace Lutheran Church, and a former member of the Alpine Curling Club and of the Monroe Country Club. She was known for her great sense of humor and infectious laughter. Brenda loved to curl, play bridge, dance, and travel, especially back to her native land to visit her large family; however, there was nothing more important to her than her husband, children, grandchildren, and great-grandson.
Friends may call at Shriner-Hager-Gohlke Funeral Home, 1455 Mansion Drive and 18th Avenue in Monroe, between 6 and 8 p.m. Monday, March 9, 2009. Funeral services will be conducted by the Reverend John Tabaka of Grace Lutheran Church, Monroe at the funeral home at 1 p.m. Tuesday, March 10, 2009. Interment will take place after the service at a private family service at the Chapel of Peace Mausoleum in Oakland Cemetery, Freeport, Illinois.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that gifts in Brenda's name be made to Grace Lutheran Church of Monroe, or to the charity of choice. The family wishes to thank the doctors, nurses and staff of the Monroe Clinic for their care of Brenda through the years.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers, Norman, George, and Laurence Jones, and by her sister, Rita Fiedorowicz.
She emigrated to the United States in 1951 to the city of Freeport, Illinois, and married Robert P. (Bob) Smith of that city in 1954. They were married for 54 years. In addition to her husband, Brenda is survived by daughters, Karen Smith of Rice Lake, Wisconsin, Patricia (Greg) Gille of Apache Junction, Arizona, and Janet (Michael) Bennett of Monona, Wisconsin. Also surviving are her grandchildren, Christina Erickson, Meghann and Robert Schottenbauer, Sean and Kailey Bennett, and by her great-grandson, Caden Erickson. Also by her sisters, Lila Clure, Beatrice Edgar, and Veronica Churchward, and by her brother, Alan Jones, all of England, and by numerous nephews and nieces in England, Canada, and Austria.
The Smith family moved to Monroe in 1972, when Bob became Senior Trust Officer of the First National Bank and Trust. Brenda was a homemaker, a member of Grace Lutheran Church, and a former member of the Alpine Curling Club and of the Monroe Country Club. She was known for her great sense of humor and infectious laughter. Brenda loved to curl, play bridge, dance, and travel, especially back to her native land to visit her large family; however, there was nothing more important to her than her husband, children, grandchildren, and great-grandson.
Friends may call at Shriner-Hager-Gohlke Funeral Home, 1455 Mansion Drive and 18th Avenue in Monroe, between 6 and 8 p.m. Monday, March 9, 2009. Funeral services will be conducted by the Reverend John Tabaka of Grace Lutheran Church, Monroe at the funeral home at 1 p.m. Tuesday, March 10, 2009. Interment will take place after the service at a private family service at the Chapel of Peace Mausoleum in Oakland Cemetery, Freeport, Illinois.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that gifts in Brenda's name be made to Grace Lutheran Church of Monroe, or to the charity of choice. The family wishes to thank the doctors, nurses and staff of the Monroe Clinic for their care of Brenda through the years.