Joan (Rhodes) Smith

Joan Rhodes Smith (86) of Urbana passed away in her home on Tuesday August 29, 2023.  Joan was born on October 5, 1936 in Urbana, IL to Grover Cecil and Dorothy (Rittenhouse) Rhodes. Although she was named Alice Joan, she was called Joan all of her life, eventually dropping the use of Alice all together. She graduated from Urbana High School in 1954.

Following high school, she enrolled at the University of Illinois to study education where she pledged the Chi Omega Sorority. In 1955 she left college and married Charles H. Throughout her life she worked as a home care aide, a teacher’s aide, and a real estate agent but finished her career as a medical office assistant working first at Burnham Hospital and then Christie Clinic; retiring from there in 2006.

Devoted to her children and grandchildren, Joan never missed an opportunity to spend time with them. Surviving are her three children: Cathy Moe (Scott), Tim Smith (Liza Erickson), and Tish Stanner (Steve). Also surviving are 7 grandchildren: Kyle Moe (Ashley), Sarah Chapman (Scot), Ellen McGill (Colin), Joshua Stanner (Kaitlyn), Alaine Stanner (Craig Berberich), Dylan Smith, and Landon Smith, plus 6 great children: Rylie, Logan, and Blake Chapman, Easton and Emersyn Stanner, and Melanie McGill. She was preceded in death by both parents and a brother E. Eugene (Dusty) Rhodes.

Joan received a lot of satisfaction from giving her time and energy to her church. For over 25 years she was a well-known face at many events and on several committees. Saturday mornings often found her bouncing from garage sale to garage sale where she collected many “treasures” that she could not resist taking home. Other pastimes included reading, sewing, needle work and watching her favorite TV show NCIS.

A funeral service will be held at 2 pm on Wednesday, September 27, 2023 at Emmanuel Memorial Episcopal Church in Champaign, Illinois. Family will greet guests at a reception following the service.

Memorials may be made to Emmanuel Memorial Episcopal Church in Joan’s name or to an organization of donor’s choice.

 

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