Joyce Smith

Joyce A. Smith, of Fremont, passed away on her 96th birthday, Sunday, June 12, 2022. She was born on June 12, 1926 in Fremont to the late George and Hattie (Zweily) Zilles. Joyce was a 1944 Fremont Ross graduate. On August 16, 1949 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, she married Hilary Smith. They shared 41 years of marriage until his passing on October 14, 1990.

Joyce worked at Baldwin-Wallace College for over 20 years in addition to being a homemaker. She enjoyed listening to Big Band music, attending plays, tending to her flower and vegetable gardens as well as making Christmas cookies. Her grandchildren loved her Cherry Cheese Tarts. She was a former member of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Columbia Station as well as Sacred Heart Church in Fremont and a current member at Saint Joseph Catholic Church.

Surviving are her children, Celeste (Jerry) Queen of Lexington, NC; Claudia (Brent) Dansby of Wadsworth; Sister Janet Marie, SND of Fort Wayne, IN; Leonard (Linda) Smith of Wapakoneta; Martha Kerns of Milan; Susan (Tom) Brett of Vermilion, Joseph Smith of Vermilion, Bernard Smith of Cleveland, Elizabeth Smith of Vermilion, and Therese (Bill) Dunwoodie of New London; 16 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-grandchild; and siblings Robert (Lil) Zilles of Fremont, Leonard (Mickey) Zilles of Longwood, FL, and brother-in-law, Bob Lamalie of Bradenton, FL.

She is preceded in death by her children: Sara Smith, Mary Stetzel; siblings, Noma Jean (Calvin) Gahn; Dorothy Lamalie; Paul (Helen) Zilles and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorial Visitation will be held on Saturday, June 18, 2022 from 9:30-10:30 AM at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with her Mass beginning at 10:30 AM. Following the services at the church, family and friends will proceed to St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery for her Committal Service followed by a luncheon at Crystal Arbors Hall, 1800 E. State St., Fremont.

Memorials in Joyce's name may be made to the Sisters of Notre Dame or Sacred Heart Church.

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