Obituary index

Mary Elizabeth Smith, “Marabeth"

[June 10, 2023]  ROCHESTER - Mary Elizabeth Smith, “Marabeth,” 100, of Rochester, formerly of Tucson, AZ, passed away on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, at Carriage Crossing Senior Living of Rochester.

Service:  A private family graveside service will be held at Pleasant View Cemetery in Kewanee

Funeral home: Fricke-Calvert-Schrader, Lincoln   

Obituary

Mary Elizabeth Smith, “Marabeth,” 100, of Rochester, formerly of Tucson, AZ, passed away on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, at Carriage Crossing Senior Living of Rochester.

Mary was born on April 4, 1923, in Kewanee, the daughter of Emil F. and Elizabeth Lois (Arter) Anson. She married Theodore O. Smith and they later divorced.

Mary is survived by her son, Theodore Anson “Tim” (Karon) Smith and their children, Brenden (Alison) Smith, Ryan (Marissa) Smith, Harrison (Lauren) and great-granddaughter, Chloe Smith, and Parker Smith. Her daughter Sandra’s children, Rachel (Dustin Jackson) Deilkes and great-granddaughters Carley and Maci, and Becka (Randy) Mileham; and great-grandchildren: Jack, Carter, and Paislee.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Barbara Freyschlag; and her daughter, Sandra Elizabeth Deilkes.

“Mare” as she was known, loved golf, theater, travel, televised sports, and was an avid reader. She earned a theater degree from Denison University in Granville, Ohio in 1945. She often spoke of how proud she was of having returned to college, earning a teaching credential, and then serving as a classroom instructor at Naperville, Illinois’ Washington Junior High School that Tim and Sandra had attended.

She also helped establish a community theatre in Naperville, both ‘on’ and ‘off’ stage.

An accomplished knitter, she made blankets for children in need for a local church in Tucson, AZ. She was a long and active member of The AN Chapter of PEO, also in Tucson.

A private family graveside service will be held at Pleasant View Cemetery in Kewanee. Services have been entrusted to Fricke-Calvert-Schrader Funeral Home in Lincoln.

The family would like to extend their appreciation to the kind and caring staff at Carriage Crossing Senior Living of Rochester.

Click here to send a note of condolence to the family of  Mary Elizabeth Smith, “Marabeth"