N.Florene Smith

Naomi Florene Smith, 99, died Sunday, April 13, 2025, at the Arcola Health Care  Center, Arcola.

Florene was born in Donovan on July 20, 1925, to Clyde and Edna Johnson. She spent her childhood in Donovan, a community of Swedish immigrants, graduating from Donovan High School with the Class of 1943. In 1944, she enrolled at the University of Illinois but was unable to financially continue after her sophomore year. Wishing to continue her connection to the university, Florene worked at the Illini Union Bookstore from 1946-1953.

On Nov. 22, 1952, Florene married David Smith at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Champaign. David and Florene were married for over 70 years and raised seven children together. They made a home on Washington Street in Champaign and resided there for over 50 years.

Florene and David were faithful members of Holy Cross parish, and all seven of their children attended Holy Cross School. Together, they found a way to do whatever had to be done to make a joyous home and family.

Florene was a supportive and nurturing mother. She loved all things UI, talking about her children, collecting turtle knickknacks, drinking Folgers coffee, making pimento-and-cheese sandwiches, cooking on her 1959 Maytag gas stove, reading romance novels, re-gifting treasures from the Mercy Hospital Thrift Shop (where she volunteered for many years), walking at Allerton Park and praying the Magnificat. Above all, Florene enjoyed her family and sharing in family outings and activities.

Florene is survived by her children, Michael (Linda) of Canon City, Colo., Stephen (Pirie) of Grand Junction, Colo., Norman of Champaign, Gretchen Pierce (Fred) of Grand Junction, Thomas (Kenneth) of Tucson, Ariz., John (Carol) of Champaign and Rebecca Meyerholtz (Keith) of Grand Junction; 10 grandchildren, Eric, Rachel, Santiago, Margaret, Sean, Joshua, Jessica, Savannah, Michelle and Jacob; and six great-grandchildren, Rose, Ayana, Lexie, Cutter, Zayn and Zahra.

She was preceded in death by her husband, David Henry Smith (Oct. 3, 2023); parents; two sisters, Velma Tarbell and Marilyn Coughenour; two brothers, Bud Johnson and Dale Johnson; and her granddaughter Mary Ann Smith.

Visitation will be at Owens Funeral Home, 101 N. Elm St., Champaign, on Tuesday, May 6, from 4 to 6 p.m. A funeral Mass will be held at Holy Cross Church, 405 W. Clark St., Champaign, on Wednesday, May 7, at 10  a.m. Burial will be in Grandview Memorial Gardens.

Memorials may be designated in remembrance of Florene to Holy Cross School at osvhub.com/holycrosscatholic/giving/funds/donations-for-holy-cross-school.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of N.Florene Smith, please visit our floral store.