Alvera Smith

Alvera Smith, of Lanark, IL, passed away Friday, October 7, at Allure Nursing Home in Mt. Carroll, IL. Funeral services have been changed. Now there will be a graveside funeral service at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, October 15, at The Lanark Cemetery. A celebration of Alvera’s life will be held at 1:00 p.m. December 3, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lanark. Memorials may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church, and The Dementia Foundation.

Alvera was born on the Freely Farm outside of Brookville, IL, on December 7, 1930, daughter of Charles and Anna (Garman) Martz. Growing up on the farm, Alvera helped milk cows and do chores starting at an early age. When Alvera was in seventh grade, her family moved to Lanark where she attended high school. It was in Lanark, at a local restaurant, where Alvera met the love of her life, Fay Smith. Alvera knew very soon that Fay was the one. Alvera and Fay got married on October 22, 1947. Together they raised three children, and celebrated 67 years of marriage until Fay’s passing in 2015.

Alvera was the definition of a farmer’s wife. She took care of the kids, milked the cows, did the chores, and kept everyone well fed. She was the captain of her kitchen, and liked it best when the cooking was done by herself. Family was at the center of Alvera’s life. She took great pride in her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. She taught her family the value of a hard days work, and the importance of manners. Alvera enjoyed cleaning, and always had a spotless house, inside and out. She was an active member of the Trinity Lutheran Church community, where she taught Sunday school, and would play dominos with the church ladies.

Alvera will be dearly missed by her beloved daughter, Paulette (Terry) Rahn of Lanark; a loving daughter in-law, Bonnie Saunders-Smith of Dixon, IL; six grandchildren, Kari (Barry) Matznick, Karla (Heath) Merlak, Troy (Marddi) Rahn, Lora (David) Ackeburg, Emily (Justin) Conroy, and Adam Kradle; 11 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren; and one sister, Patricia Diffenderfer of Lena, IL. Alvera is preceded in death by her loving husband, Fay Smith; her son, Rick Smith; her daughter, Alene “Toot” Smith Kradle; her parents; and her brother and sister.