Smith, Mary Frances
Mary Frances (Marifran) Smith (nee Powers), formerly of Chicago and Orland Park, Illinois, as well as Naples, Florida, died on Friday, January 21, 2022, in Burr Ridge, Illinois. Marifran was born into a strong Irish Catholic family on February 19, 1928, in Chicago, to the late Michael and Marie (Sweeney) Powers. She was the beloved wife of the late Lawrence (Larry) Smith for 64 years, the loving mother of Laurie (Mike) Kelly, Terry (Dusty Lombardi) Smith, Janice (Mike) Harrington, and Sharon (Jim) Fox, the cherished grandmother of Matthew Peachey, Erin (Tim) Syoen, Patrick Kelly, Meghan Kelly, Colleen Harrington, Kelly Harrington, and Sean Harrington, and great-grandmother of Jackson Peachey, Avery and Grace Syoen, plus a proud aunt to nieces and nephews, a loyal cousin, Godmother, and friend to many. She was preceded in death by her brothers Michael, David (Mona), and Bernard (Judy) Powers. She met the love of her life, Larry, at a church dance shortly after he finished his Army service in World War II, and they were married on January 28, 1950. They were both proud to be part of the Chicago Southside Irish, raising their family while living in Little Flower Parish, before migrating further south to Orland Park. She graduated from St. Sabina and Loretto HS Englewood, and contiued her education at Fox business school, DePaul, and Loyola while working as a secretary downtown, until she started a family. When her kids were young, Marifran worked as an office administrator for the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers for 10 years, while also being active in Little Flower church, as the secretary of the Little Flower HS PTO, attending her children’s activities, and helping with various fundraisers. After moving to Orland Park, she decided to pursue something different and began what became a very successful career as a Real Estate Broker with Hart Realtors in Tinley Park, a job she loved and held until she and Larry moved to Naples, Florida, where they enjoyed 30 happy years of golfing, bowling, and sharing good times with new Florida friends and longtime Illinois friends. They loved entertaining visitors, especially their kids and grandkids. Not one to sit still, Marifran volunteered several years of her organizational and leadership talents as the President and then a Board of Director of Lakewood Country Club in Naples, Florida, while also being a volunteer for Lady Elks charity projects, the Loretto Federation, and Church fundraisers. She was a smart, energetic, fiercely proud, determined, hardworking woman who loved her Catholic faith, her family, anything Notre Dame, dancing (especially the “Jitterbug” with Larry), playing and teaching her kids and grandkids Mahjong, and living life to the fullest. There will be a short visitation on Mom’s “earthly birthday,” Saturday, February 19th, at 9:30 a.m. in the vestibule of Notre Dame Church, 64 Norfolk Ave, in Clarendon Hills, IL, to be followed by a Funeral mass at 10:30 a.m. celebrating Marifran’s happy and full life. Masks are required while in Church. Since the Church does not allow flowers, a donation would be greatly appreciated, in Mom’s name, to www.dementiasociety.org. Due to ongoing Covid concerns at the time, we have decided not to have a luncheon after the Mass. Service information: Adolf Funeral Home – Willowbrook 630-325-2300 or adolfservices.com
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