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Monica Marie (Marley) Smith, 96, of Storm Lake died peacefully on Friday, Aug. 23, 2024 at Methodist Manor Retirement Community after living a long, full life.
Funeral Mass will take place Tuesday, Aug. 27, at 10:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Early. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held Monday, Aug. 26, from 4:45-7 p.m. with Rosary at 4:45 p.m. and Vigil Service at 7 p.m. all at the church in Early. Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements.
Monica was born May 4, 1928, daughter of Dominic Stephen and Anna Inez (Torticill) Marley of Blencoe.
A farm girl at heart, she was the sixth of 10 children. She loved her family and her siblings, visiting them frequently even just before she died. She attended a one room country schoolhouse in Sherman Township #2 and St. Joseph High School in Salix, graduating in 1945. After high school, she graduated in 1950 with a degree in education from Briar Cliff College in Sioux City.
While teaching high school home economics at Early High School in Early (1950-1952), she met the love of her life Joseph Henry Smith, where he was attending night school. She would always smirk when telling stories of how ornery he was. Monica and Joe were married July 16, 1952. They made their home on a farm west of Nemaha where they raised seven beautiful children. Together, Monica and Joe dedicated their lives to their family and farm. After 35 beautiful years of marriage, Joe died far too young on June 30, 1988, during a tragic asthma flare. Although Monica missed growing old with him, she lived a full life despite being widowed at such a young age.
Throughout her life, Monica remained an active mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, church and community volunteer. She was a dear and dependable friend to everyone lucky enough to befriend her. She treasured her time socializing, whether it be bridge club, church guild, water aerobics or morning coffee and donuts. She was always giving back to the community whether it be years volunteering at Sacred Heart School, clipping soup labels and box tops for the “Box Tops for Education” for St. Mary’s School and working at BVRMC coffee shop, which she loved. She was so sharp that even on her deathbed she remembered everyone’s name, details of their lineage and important dates better than anyone else we know.
Monie, Grandma or “Grandma Joe” to her crew of 60, was the best. She knitted Christmas stockings for everyone (including everyone’s spouse and great-grandkids), never sent a birthday card late, and always made the best strawberry salad and caramel pecan rolls, chocolate surprise cookies and homemade strawberry jam. She also loved Page’s donut holes and was known to stash them when certain relatives or grandchildren came to visit. She loved all of us with her whole being and recently declared “no one ever told me it would be this grand to talk to your grandchildren as adults.” She was so proud of each one of them. She will be so missed, but left such a legacy we hope to carry on her spirit of service to others and our community.
Left to cherish her memory are her children: Dennis (Sandra) of Parker, Colo.; Jeff (Martha) of Storm Lake; Christi Smith-Pauley of Omaha, Neb.; Doug (Cheryl) of Omaha, Neb.; David (Kris) of Omaha, Neb.; and Shawn (Lesia) of West Des Moines; grandchildren: Kylie (Thomas) Hall, Kendra Smith, Kristin (Dave) Jessen, Padget (Erick) Skogman, Bridget (Sam) Morehead, Colleen (Ben) Talaska, Brendan (Bri) Smith, Dillan (Maggie) Smith, Josie (Josh Townsend), Cole and Kyle Pauley, Haley (Brock) Mason, Hannah and Ryan Smith, Jackson and Brady Smith, Noah and Kara Smith; as well as 21 great-grandchildren with one on the way; brothers, Stephen (Audrey) Marley and Jerry (Marge) Marley; sister Nan Nalty; many nieces and nephews; and sisters-in-law: Anne Reisch, Marilyn Hall and Joyce Smith.
She was preceded in death by her husband Joseph Smith; oldest daughter Cheryl Anne “Cheri” Smith; parents, Dominic and Inez Marley; and in-laws, Henry and Marie Smith; brothers, Edward and John (Bobbie) Marley; sisters: Agnes (Dave) Craford, Kay (Paul) Quinlan, Jean (Bruno) Pannuto and Pauline (Walt) Lamoureux; brother-in-law Pat Nalty; Joe’s siblings: Cecil, Ed (Pat), Bill (Marvel and Luella), Eileen (Bob) Martin, Frank (Joan), Don Reisch, Stan Hall and Fr James Smith.
