Dee Smith, 87

Dolores T. (Kowal) Smith, age 87, of Kalamazoo, died Saturday, July 12, 2014 at Fountain View Retirement Village. She was born in Chicago on Dec. 16, 1926 the daughter of John and Mary (Hrycyn) Kowal. The family moved to Mendon in 1942 and Dee graduated from Mendon High School with the class of 1945. She then graduated from Western Michigan College in 1949. She was married to Charles I. Smith on Dec. 26, 1953 in Kalamazoo. Chuck died on Dec. 26, 1988. Dee taught 5th and 6th grades in Comstock Elementary for 37 years, retiring in 1986. Following retirement she worked briefly at Gilmores Department Store and enjoyed travelling.

Dee is survived by 3 children, Christopher Smith of Vicksburg, Terese (Mark) Roodbeen of Portage, and John Smith of Scotts; 5 grandchildren, April and Autumn Roodbeen, Elisha, Mary, and Elijah Smith. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; and a grandson, Vince Roodbeen.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Eickhoff Funeral Home in Mendon and where the Rosary will be recited at 7:45 p.m. on Wednesday. The funeral mass will be 11:30 a.m. Thursday July 17, 2014 at St. Edward Catholic Church in Mendon with Dee’s nephew Rev. Craig Lusk of St. Mary Parish in Marshall officiating. Burial will be in St. Edward Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the Alzheimer’s Association, SW Regional Office, 350 E. Michigan Ave., Suite 20, Kalamazoo, MI 49007. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.eickhofffuneralhome.com