Janet McHenry Smith

Date of Birth

Apr 28,1938

Date of Death

Aug 17,2016

Janet McHenry Smith, age 78, of Forsyth, IL, formerly of Geneva, IL, passed away into the arms of her Savior, Wednesday, August 17, 2016.

She was born April 28, 1938, in Brooklyn, NY, the daughter of Joseph and Loretta (Gallagher) McHenry

Janet spent her growing up years up and down the northeast coast. After graduating high school, she attended Pennsylvania State Teachers College, but graduated from Northern Illinois University with a B.S.N.

While working as a census taker, Janet found herself speaking to her future husband. Bob Smith was renting a room in the house and knew nothing of its occupants. Not wanting to let a pretty girl get away, he said to come back and he would have the information she needed. Lucky for him, he got some information in return: a phone number. Their first date came a week later and wedding vows were exchanged one year after that on June 3, 1961 in Chambersburg, PA.

They began their new life together in Exton, PA for a time. They called Claremont, CA their home in 1968, but settled in Illinois in 1972. They would eventually welcome home four beautiful girls who made the family complete and spent 54 years making millions of memories. Following Bob’s passing in 2015, Janet moved in with her daughter, Jennifer, in Liberty Township, OH. Recently they relocated back to Illinois, settling in Forsyth, IL.

After graduating from N.I.U., Janet found employment at Delnor Hospital in St. Charles as an Obstetrics Nurse. She helped bring joy into the world many years until her retirement brought her back home to her flower and vegetable garden, games of Bunko and watching every bird who came to visit. Her mind was kept sharp by reading hundreds of books over her lifetime. Janet was a strong and independent woman who was proud of who she was.

She was a faithful member of St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Geneva and was a longtime volunteer at the food pantry.

Janet was a woman who was admired and stood tall amongst her peers, but nothing compared to her job as a mother, and later as a grandmother of nine grandchildren. Reunited with her husband, Janet and Bob now work hand in hand, tending the gardens of the Lord.

She is survived by four daughters: Jennifer (Mike) Wolfkiel, Cheryl (Tom Davis) Smith, Gail (Colin) Manahan and Amy (Marty) Aske; 9 grandchildren: Erin and Patrick Wolfkiel, Nick Perdue, Alanna Davis, Lauren and Colin Manahan, and Ryan, Jacob and Emma Aske; two brothers: Michael McHenry and Donald McHenry; and one special friend Tina Krieger; many cousins and nieces and nephews; and her special four legged companion, Fiona.

He is preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Loretta McHenry; her husband Bob Smith and brother Joey McHenry.

Visitation will be from 9:30-10:15 a.m., with a mass to celebrate her faith beginning at 10:30 a.m., at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, 1891 Kaneville Rd, Geneva, IL 60134, on Saturday, August 20, 2016. Interment will follow at Resurrection Cemetery, Geneva, IL.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in Janet’s name to benefit the St. Peter’s Food Pantry. Checks may be made to the “St. Peter’s Food Pantry” and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, IL 60119. Tributes may also forwarded to the same address, the Conley Funeral Home Facebook Page or on www.conleycare.com.

Visitation will be from 9:30-10:15 a.m., with a mass to celebrate her faith beginning at 10:30 a.m., at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, 1891 Kaneville Rd, Geneva, IL 60134, on Saturday, August 20, 2016.

Visitation will be from 9:30-10:15 a.m., with a mass to celebrate her faith beginning at 10:30 a.m., at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, 1891 Kaneville Rd, Geneva, IL 60134, on Saturday, August 20, 2016.

Interment will follow at Resurrection Cemetery, Geneva, IL.

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